October 2024

Citrus SA Annual General Meeting – Friday, October 11

Citrus SA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday, October 11, at the Barmera Events Centre, starting at 10am.

This year's AGM is particularly crucial as we face significant challenges due to Costa Farms' decision to reclaim their $1 per tonne PIFS contribution, which will impact grower representation moving forward. Your attendance is vital to vote on the proposed options for the future of Citrus SA.

A PowerPoint presentation will outline these options. If you cannot attend, we encourage you to submit a proxy form to ensure your vote is counted. Citrus SA’s annual report is available on our website.

Following the AGM, representatives from Elders, Corteva, Agnova, Incitec, Bayer, Go Track, UPL, Maxsil, Imtrade, and Omnia Specialities will be available to answer your growing-related questions.

Coffee will be served before the meeting, and lunch will follow. Please RSVP by Monday, October 7, for catering purposes. RSVPs and proxy forms can be emailed to contact@citrussa.com.au

Interstate bin warning from chair

As we move into another spring, I’d like to take a moment to address a concern that becomes more pressing this time of year: the rise in fruit fly activity. Protecting our crops is a shared responsibility, and I want to ensure everyone is aware of the potential risks we face.

Interstate bins continue to pose one of the greatest threats to our industry. While a bin may appear clean on the surface, it’s what’s underneath, or in the Tautliner that brought it from the eastern states, that we need to watch closely. These trucks can, unfortunately, provide fruit flies with a direct route to our farms.

I can personally recall at least five instances where interstate bins resulted in fruit flies being detected or outbreaks declared near grower bin depots. These incidents remind us how real this threat is.

The most effective way to combat this risk is by ensuring that traps are placed near all bin depots. It’s crucial that we utilize both male traps, such as MAT cups, and female traps like Fruition. Focusing on just one is not enough; we need to monitor and trap both to truly mitigate the risk.

Traps are readily available, and I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to install and maintain them. It’s a small investment that can have a significant impact on the health of our industry.

By working together and taking these preventive steps, we can continue to protect our crops and ensure the ongoing success of our operations.

Mark Doecke, chair, Citrus SA.

Free Mental Health Support for Small Businesses in the Murraylands and Riverland

Regional Development Australia Murraylands & Riverland (RDAMR) is launching a free, tailored mental health support program for small business owners and employees. The Individualised Care for Mental Health and Wellbeing program offers two types of support:

• One-on-One Sessions: A mental health expert will meet you at a convenient time and location to discuss personal challenges.

• Group Sessions: Tailored 3-hour sessions addressing specific team concerns, offering practical solutions.

Participants will also have access to two 24/7 support services for ongoing care. The program is designed to provide immediate and long-term solutions through a panel of experts.

Interested businesses can apply by completing a short survey (approx. 10 minutes).

For more information and to get involved, please visit the RDAMR website or contact them directly.

Pickers Handbook now available in Punjabi

Citrus SA has worked closely with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and has funded the translation of the Australian fresh citrus harvest handbook to the Punjabi language.

With the majority of pickers coming from non-English speaking backgrounds, it’s crucial they understand what is required to harvest the fruit safely and hygienically.

The new Punjabi version is available both in hard copy or as a PDF version. Please email contact@citrussa.com.au to request a copy.

Royal Adelaide Show Recap

This past month, much of our focus was on the Royal Adelaide Show, which continues to be a great platform for showcasing our citrus industry to the public.

Preparation started the week before the event, with Louise and Kirsty leading the design and setup of our stand. Their efforts ensured we had a professional and engaging presence.

This year, the Yellow Brick Road provided mandarins for distribution, a change from previous years when both oranges and mandarins were handed out. PIRSA generously supplied brochures and colouring books, which were a hit throughout the show and distributed from the Yellow Brick Road area.

In addition to the traditional orange juice, we offered blood orange juice this year, which proved to be popular and we sold more than 12,000 cups of juice during the event.

A big thank you to Venus Citrus for supporting us with a significant portion of the juice fruit, as well as Waikerie Citrus (Narinda Singh) , Locherts and  Nippys for their contributions.

Logistics ran smoothly thanks to Errol, the pavilion manager, who handled early morning deliveries efficiently. The Show committee, along with the Goyder Pavilion committee and other commodity groups, are exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated horticulture precinct within the Goyder Pavilion to highlight all horticultural commodities. Both Trade Minister Joe Szakacs and Agriculture Minister Clare Scriven have expressed support, so we’ll keep an eye on developments.

It’s always a big effort to organize and participate in the Show, but the opportunity to engage with and educate the public about our industry makes it all worthwhile. A special thank you to everyone involved, particularly Anthony, Kirsty, Louise, and the Show staff, for their hard work and dedication.

Adelaide Hills & Fleurieu Hort Technology Fair – October 17, 2024

Fruit Producers SA will host the Adelaide Hills & Fleurieu Hort Technology Fair on Thursday, October 17, 2024. The event will feature 35 technology companies and 150 growers from across South Australia, offering insights into how the latest innovations can benefit your horticultural business.

The day begins at 10am with a presentation from Hort Innovations, followed by a networking session at 3pm, and will conclude by 4:30pm.

If there is enough interest, free coach transport will be available from locations like Berri and Virginia. Growers interested in the Berri bus should contact Grant Piggott, CEO of Fruit Producers SA, at 0419 185 307.

October production tips

·       Hedging, Pruning, and Skirting:

• Pruning increases fruit size, produces premium fruit by improving pack-out percentage, and reduces skin damage/blemish. It also improves water distribution, chemical coverage, and pest management. Review the crop load of all patches and determine a pruning strategy based on crop load and expected blossom.

·       Foliar Nutrient Spray and Fertigation:

• Apply a foliar spray after fruit set to balance nutrition and supply trace elements to improve fruit size.

·       Pesticide Controls:

• Critical timing to control LBAM, Mealy Bug, Thrips, Katydid, Scales, Aphids, Spined Citrus Bug, and Citrus Gall Wasp. Keep track of CGW emergence to ensure effective control strategies.

·       Increase Fruit Set Sprays:

• Consider fruit set strategies based on the previous season's crop load. Consult with your packing shed/GLO/consultant for rates.

·       Irrigation:

• Critical during flowering and fruit-set. Regular maintenance of infrastructure and monitoring of soil moisture is essential to prevent tree stress.

·       Weed Control:

• Knockdown herbicides or residual herbicides as required