Littabella Pines looks to the future

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Littabella Pines looks to the future

The Australian pineapple industry is taking a proactive approach to improving environmental outcomes and enterprise sustainability with a number of industryled research and development trials currently underway across the state. For Bundaberg grower, John Steemson, the industry trials are as much about achieving better results for the farming enterprise and environment as they are about instigating conversation and practice change. Mr Steemson along with his wife, Linda, and sons, Daniel and Justin, operate Littabella Pines in the Bundaberg region growing pineapples, watermelons, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and sugarcane. The Steemsons planted their first crop of pineapples in 2002 after experiencing very dry conditions which left them unable to irrigate. “The only water we have on the property comes from our dams. We are not on any irrigation scheme and there are no underground water deposits,” John said. “A good friend of ours suggested pineapples as it was a crop that didn’t need much, if any, irrigation. We planted our first crop in 2002, had our first fruit in 2004 and it has been a steady progression since then.” Today, the Steemsons grow pineapples across 250 hectares of land producing around 5,000 tonnes annually. When market conditions are attractive, John said they send around 600 tonnes of pineapple to the Central Markets. The remainder of their crop is sent to Golden Circle for processing. Dry conditions continue to cause issues for the pineapple industry with John explaining the past two years have been some of the driest on record. “It’s been shocking the past two years. Out of an average annual rainfall of 1,200 mm, in 2019 we only measured 280 mm, and again in 2020 we only received a little over 500 mm. The lack of rain has resulted in an enormous amount of small juice grade pineapples with around one third of production for the past two years undersized,” Mr Steemson said. Despite the ongoing drought conditions, 100 mm was recently recorded across the farm with more rainfall expected. The range of crops grown allows for production 12 months of the year. This steady production schedule has aided the Steemsons to maintain full time employment for their core group of 25 workers. “Having that consistent production has been really useful for us in being able to maintain a stable workforce,” Mr Steemson said. Recognising their position on the very doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, the Steemsons are actively involved in several programs, trials and research projects being conducted by the Australian pineapple industry in collaboration with the Queensland Government, Growcom and private enterprises. The results of many of these trials were on display at this year’s annual Pineapple Field Days (see page 15). “Understanding the importance of optimal nutrient use for both farm productivity and water quality targets is becoming increasingly important. Our hope is that we instigate conversation and practice change by having industry take on board the findings of the research,” Mr Steemson said. One trial that formed part of the Field Days was an erosion control site investigating several approaches to reduce losses of sediment, nutrients and pesticides. A secondary aim of the trial was to utilise Hort360, Growcom’s best management practice program for horticulture, to capture the practice improvements made on-farm. “Through this trial we installed different approaches to runoff management both in the farming area and as it leaves the farm. We’ve got standard industry practice, then we’ve also got some more innovative measures being put into place and evaluated,” Mr Steemson said. According to Mr Steemson, the site was established so it could be used as a benchmark and as a topic of conversation within industry. “We want to enable people to take away some ideas and put them into practice in their own operations because it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer; it’s about having as many tools in the toolbox as we can so we can get the best financial outcome for the operation as well as the best environmental outcomes,” he said. Along with the erosion control site the Steemsons are also involved in a number of other industry trials looking at improved fumigation practices, the effectiveness of bio-organic products, herbicide replacements, and monitoring the viability of bioreactors as an option to manage chemical and nutrient leaving growing sites. This article was originally published in Growcom’s Fruit & Vegetable News. You can read the original at bit.ly/2VxKWQz.

Spotlight on sustainability: John Steemson amongst the pineapples at his property near Bundaberg. Image: Paul Beutel Photography