Vine magazine August 2021 by Vine magazine

Top quality season BEST OF THE BEST

Labo O F L ur OV E

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Contents 4

Cover story Champions in the field

31 Biosecurity Spotted lanternfly

News Labour of love

32 Marketing ATGA's own spin on 360°

10 DFA chair & CEO news

33 Marketing New Australian Sultanas website

11 ATGA chair & CEO news

34 Processing & marketing APDF

12 Dried grape news

35 Processing & marketing Sunbeam Foods

14 Table grape news

36 Processing & marketing MRO

16 Prune news Growers head to Young for new ideas

37 Technology Innovation in agriculture

18 News Rich history in the spotlight

38 Profile Rocky Mammone

20 Feature Women in horticulture

39 Community Notice board

24 News Looking back on industry project

39 Board members

25 Research Chlormequat put to the test 26 Research Improving table grape quality 28 News Sustainability stories 30 Biosecurity Mass trapping female fruit flies The Vine is a joint publication of the Australian table grape and dried fruits industries. For editorial and advertising enquiries, contact: Dried Fruits Australia T: (03) 5023 5174 E: enquiries@driedfruitsaustralia.org.au W: www.driedfruitsaustralia.org.au Australian Table Grape Association T: (03) 5021 5718 E: enquiries@atga.net.au W: www.australiangrapes.com.au Editorial committee: DFA Anne Mansell, Megan Frankel-Vaughan ATGA Jeff Scott, Terryn Milner Design: Kylie Norton Design Printing: Sunnyland Press Cover photo: Andrew Hobbs, in partnership with his wife Sharee, were the 2021 DFA Quality Award winners. Photography by David Sickerdick. © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2021 This publication has been funded by Hort Innovation using the table grape and dried grape levies and funds from the Australian Government. Wherever you see a Hort Innovation logo, the initiative is part of the Table Grape, Dried Grape, Dried Tree Fruit or Prune Fund. Some projects also involve funding from additional sources.

Table Grapes

Dried Grapes

Combined Industries

Prunes

Season 2021/22 is on its way! While many of the southern states are still in preparation mode, table grape producers are already marking the start of the harvest season in Mareeba, Qld. Although some of the challenges we faced in the past year will still remain, we're more prepared for them. As hort industries, we're not sitting by idly, and there are lots of initiatives that communities, industries and governments are undertaking to support producers through the upcoming season. Growers are adapting in many ways to the new realities and requirements of production, including modifying pruning practices and increasing business capacity to attract labour. Now more than ever, we hope you can rely on our industry associations to provide support and updates as we approach the 2021/22 season. – from the team

For further publication details, see page 39

Champions in the field Andrew and Sharee Hobbs have been in the dried grape industry for just five years, but it’s their four decades in other horticulture industries that gave them the experience to excel in producing a high-quality product. The Cardross couple’s Bruce’s Sport was crowned Best Dried Fruit when Dried Fruits Australia (DFA) announced its Quality Award winners for the 2021 season at the 70th Mildura Field Days in May.

“The fruit variety helped – Bruce’s Sport is a pretty light-coloured fruit.” While Andrew said he and Sharee couldn’t take all the glory – after receiving some advice on harvest timing – the win consolidated their four decades in horticulture, and the work, dedication and continued interest in all horticulture crops. “Our careers cover multiple crops from citrus, wine grape, nuts and vegetable growing both in corporate and owner operator/family farming roles in SA, Victoria and NSW,” he said. Surprise dried fruit growers Despite all of their experience in

In announcing the category and overall

horticulture, Andrew and Sharee

winners, DFA board deputy chair

had never intended to become dried

Warren Lloyd said under the right conditions, Australia produced the best dried grapes in the world.

grape growers when they bought their

Warren said 2021 was a good year, with great drying conditions.

nut industry, Andrew said the couple

“Great conditions produce great quality fruit,” he said.

existing dried grape plantings and

“So all these people who have won the awards this year, you have produced the best quality fruit in the category in the world – you’re a world champion.

Those plans changed when Andrew

“It’s a mighty fine achievement to produce the best quality fruit in the industry.

“The traditional lead time on pistachios

“It’s great to acknowledge the work of our growers and the people who have won should feel justifiably proud of what they’ve achieved.”

out if it’s actually making money and

Experience offers path to success

the net return per hectare is better

Andrew said the award win came as a pleasant surprise for the couple, who had not long been in the dried grape industry.

than wine grapes.”

“We always try to achieve above average, and certainly always hope for

10 hectares, and about three hectares

higher,” he said.

jujubes.

4 VINE MAGAZINE

property in 2016. With his most recent experience in the had planned to slowly push out the replace them with pistachios. started his consultancy business and ran the numbers on the existing dried grape crop. is seven to 10 years,” Andrew said. “We thought ‘why would we push it paying the bills here?’. “The numbers on it surprised us. Even though there’s more labour involved,

In 2019, the couple bought another dried grape property nearby, bringing their dried grape production area to of a completely different crop –

COVER STORY

VINE MAGAZINE 5

COVER STORY

Diversity in crops Variety on the Hobbs’ property offers a certain level of stability. In dried fruit, they produce sultana, Sunmuscat, Selma Pete, Diamond Muscat and their award-winning Bruce’s Sport, and are keen to add another early variety to minimise

farm, basically, and that was not the

“That communication and bit of

intention,” Andrew said.

camaraderie, that openness from

“We still weren’t as bad as the growers up the road who lost everything, but it’s

Andrew acknowledged DFA field

and start up a new business all in the

officer Stuart Putland’s industry

same period, with next to no income

projects and field days as a resource

coming in.”

for growers and a way to advance the

After a first year that shook their

crop, jujubes.

confidence, Andrew and Sharee picked

originating in Asia, which the Hobbs’ sell to the Sydney wholesale market. Andrew said the crop was high-value, but because it’s relatively new to Australia, the dried fruit offered stability and a level of certainty to the properties. He and Sharee are currently researching and weighing up options for earlier dried grape varieties so they face less pressure come harvest. First-year wipeout It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Andrew and Sharee.

up the pieces and pushed ahead,

whole industry. v And the winners are …

knowing that the property could

The full list of DFA Quality Award

produce quality fruit and offer solid

winners were:

returns. Industry rises together Andrew admits he and Sharee couldn’t have done it alone. The pair have leant on the knowledge of neighbours and others in the industry generous enough to offer advice. With a background in wine grapes, the Hobbs’ didn’t need to know how to grow grapes, but rather relied on advice about the drying process, timing and

Best Dried Fruit: (Bruce’s Sport) Andrew and Sharee Hobbs, Cardross Best Sultana: Frank and Fortunata Panetta, Mildura Best Sunmuscat and Best Raisin: Stephen and Jinky Nicholls, Dareton Best Sunglo: Paul and Lea Andronescu, Sunnycliffs Best Carina Currants: Robert and Elizabeth Kennedy, Irymple

varieties.

Three months after they bought

“You’ve usually got to rely on someone

their Cardross property in 2016, any

else in your business, but if it’s just the

prospects of a successful first season

two of us, it’s the people around you

were wiped out by hail.

that make things work,” Andrew said.

“We still harvested some fruit, but we

“DFA has a lot of information, there’s a

almost didn’t qualify to be a primary

lot of information on varieties, and you

producer that year – we were a hobby

can talk to your neighbours.

6 VINE MAGAZINE

industry forward.”

hard when you shift here, buy the farm,

harvesting clashes with their other Jujubes are a plum-like stone fruit

within the industry, will help drive the

Previous page, left and bottom: Andrew Hobbs, along with his wife Sharee took home the Best Dried Fruit category of the 2021 DFA Quality Awards. Top right: Dried Fruits Australia 2021 Quality Award winners Robert Kennedy, Frank and Fortunata Panetta, Stephen Nicholls and Paul Andronescu with DFA board deputy chair Warren Lloyd.

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NEWS

Labour of love The word labour has never been far from the mind of table grape growers. In fact, sourcing workers has been a point of contention for Australia’s horticulture industries for decades. But since the Federal Government declared Australia’s borders closed to stop the spread of Covid-19, Australian growers have reportedly been forced to leave fruit on vines;

other industries across Australia (see p. 32).

the reason we applied to be approved

growers have reported being anxious

employers through SWP was to shore

about what the continued pressure

up the core of our labour requirements

on labour will mean for the upcoming

each season,” Robyn said. “Being part

season, with the crisis expected to

of SWP was never about supplying 100

worsen, and some are taking as many

per cent of our labour force, but about

precautions as possible to ensure they’ll minimise the impact on their businesses. While most growers source their

undertaken back-breaking work just

workers through approved labour hire

to harvest their crops; and there has

providers, following two challenging

been a lot of talk of growers paying

seasons, some have felt the need to

exorbitantly high rates just to keep

strategically increase their chances

workers on farm.

of securing workers by applying to

million around Australia, according to the National Farmers’ Federation’s National Lost Crop Register. Even so, this year is on track to be a recordbreaking year for agriculture, with ABARES expecting total farm output to exceed $66 billion. State and federal governments have been working with industries to roll out initiatives designed to counter the workforce shortage, including announcing an agriculture-specific visa – yet to be finalised – changing existing visa conditions, introducing programs to recruit youth, students, the culturally and linguistically diverse communities, unemployed and existing farm workers into industry. As an industry organisation, the

“The key benefit for our business and

However, despite these efforts,

family-owned establishments have

Back in March, crop losses hit $50

“Shore up the core”

providing us with a core group of staff who would stay for the whole season, that we could train up and would return to us year after year. “The Covid-19 pandemic has definitely highlighted to us the benefit of the program in having access to labour when there are such severe labour shortages in so many industries.”

become approved employers for the

The process of becoming an approved

Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP)

employer is not for everyone; some

and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).

growers currently undertaking

So, what’s an approved employer? Approved employers are either direct employers, who predominantly recruit for their own business, or labour hire companies and others who can on-hire to growers. They can participate in the SWP and the PLS because they have applied to do so through the Australian Government.

the process have lamented the lengthiness, confusing nature and demands of the application conditions. While Robyn agreed the undertaking was “overwhelming” at the beginning, and the paperwork element of the process was “frustrating”, she said it was critical that businesses applying were “reading the requirements, checking off the checklists provided,

Approved employers enter into

making sure you have provided

an agreement with the Australian

everything required and responding

Government through the Department

to requests for more information in a

of Education, Skills and Employment

timely manner”.

(DESE). Additionally, they have to enter

“Being an approved employer has

into a sponsorship arrangement with the Department of Home Affairs to

provided our business with consistency in our labour force,” she said. “Not

bring in overseas workers.

only do we have a core base of staff

has been involved in significant

Carnarvon grower Bumbak & Sons

but these recruits have already been

consultation with state and federal

began this process three years ago.

governments, provided industry

Their human resources and quality

guidance on workforce workshops,

assurance manager Robyn Bumbak

Robyn said the annual recruitment

and developed video tools (funded by

said as the bitter effects of the

conditions could also be “a challenge”,

Agriculture Victoria) to help recruit

international border closures soured

with approved employers required

and retain new seasonal workers or

the season, they saw the benefit of

to provide suitable accommodation

existing workers currently working in

already being approved employers.

and meet other necessary worker

Australian Table Grape Association

8 VINE MAGAZINE

trained by us, know our procedures, standards and work conditions.”

NEWS

conditions. Although there is “some

events and participate in local

Robyn declared the biggest challenge

more organisation required than using

sporting clubs.

of the program the “emotional side”.

“We are so fortunate that we

“As a family run business working

became approved employers when

closely with our team, we get to know

seasonal staff already in Australia”, the benefits have far outweighed any hitches.

we did,” Robyn said. “With our

them well,” she said. “You see first-hand

“During a situation like the Covid-19

business expansion our harvest crew

the sacrifices they make to support

pandemic there has been an added cost

requirements grew from 30 to 80

their families – being away from their

to bringing workers into the country,

quickly and the program definitely

loved ones for up to nine months,

and that is something we definitely had

assisted with this transition. In early

missing cultural celebrations or the

to seriously consider,” she said. “But the

2020, the pandemic put a halt to our

birth of their children, having loved

benefits extend beyond our business.

recruiting, but we were fortunate

ones pass away and not being able to

Over the years our recruits have shared

enough to locate some recruits who

get them home in time to see them.” v

with us how their savings from working

were stranded in Australia and out of

with us have allowed them, once home,

work that could be transferred to us.

to start businesses, buy vehicles, purchase land, rebuild after cyclones – the program really makes a difference to the people of the Pacific Islands. It also benefits our local community as the crew attend churches, support local businesses, attend community

“Then in 2021 Western Australia finally allowed the arrival of seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands into the state and we now have 22 recruits on farm, with another eight arriving later in the year.”

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEASONAL WORKER PROGRAMME AND PACIFIC LABOUR SCHEME

Length of time Industries Locations

SEASONAL WORKER PROGRAMME

PACIFIC LABOUR SCHEME

Up to 9 months

Up to 3 years (minimum 12 months)

Agriculture, accommodation (in select locations) Agriculture: Nationally. Accommodation: WA, NT, Tropical North Qld and Kangaroo Island

All sectors in rural and regional Australia Rural and regional Australia

Skill level

Unskilled and low-skilled

Low-skilled and semi-skilled

Labour market testing

Required

Agency Age of workers

Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business 21 years and over Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,

Partner countries

Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu

How to apply? Application and approval processes for the PLS and SWP are managed by the Australian Government.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 21–45 years Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu

(SWP), which includes developing a recruitment proposal which is submitted and assessed by the relevant state. If the proposal is approved, a recruitment application can be made,

The process isn’t as easy as first

involving labour market testing,

thought, and unfortunately – at this

detailed accommodation arrangements

stage – until an applicant begins the process, they’re unable to see what’s required.

and wellbeing plans for the workers. If approved by DESE, the application is sent back to the state chief health

in Australia to quarantine. The Australian Table Grape Association is working to make information available for industry members, but for now, you can find out more from the official channels: https://www.dese.gov.au/seasonalworker-programme/informationseasonal-worker-employers/process-

Once approved, businesses must

officer for final endorsement before

become-approved-employer

undertake a 10-step process

workers are mobilised and then arrive

https://pacificlabourmobility.com.au

VINE MAGAZINE 9

DFA CHAIR & CEO NEWS

New season brings new projects A note from our chair Pruning should be coming to an end, however labour has been impossible to find, so we have had to do things differently this year. With the vertical trellis, there were not many options to save labour. Removing last year’s canes was first to be done with the cane slapper or cane stripper. Then the canes for next year had to be rolled on, then a rough pruning. As for the Shaw trellis, we removed the canes, then pinned the foliage wire in place to hold next year’s canes in place. We then rolled the trellis. We will give it a quick pruning. We will run along with the topper under the bottom wire to remove any long canes. It will be rough, but we have no other choice. We did the numbers on a few patches after the 2020 harvest and decided to get rid of low-performing patches. This means we didn’t prune them after the 2020 crop, just rolled the trellis. We cut the vine trunk and dried them on the vine. These were old grafted vines, mainly sultana type, that would produce one year, then less than one tonne to the acre the next. Labour availability is unlikely to change next year, so there is no better time for growers to do the numbers. DFA has a program that gives average costs and income, which may help make decisions on your property. While costs to replant could be high, talk to your processors as they may be able to help.

Water availability has taken up much DFA time as we, along with other industries, realise the ability to deliver water is in doubt in high allocation years. The river system simply doesn’t hold enough water to meet demand. There have been calls to stop new developments in NSW and SA as has been done in Victoria. DFA realises that something has to be done but we would like to look at all options before a decision is made.

News from our CEO Over the past few months, DFA has continued to work on a diverse range of issues. DFA is working with Hort Innovation toward securing a further five years to deliver the industry development officer (IDO) project. After an industry workshop developed a new strategic research and development framework in January of this year, the IDO will have key areas to work toward, including: - The promotion of innovative techniques to assist productivity growth; - Assisting with the further development of industry capacity; and - Reviewing dried grape production systems to ensure both quality and yield parameters are efficient and productive, meeting the needs of markets and the industry as it grows. New Spray Diary out now The 2021-2022 Spray Diary is now available.

Mark King | Chair

10 VINE MAGAZINE

Considerable effort by DFA and processors has again gone into the development of the diary, reviewing maximum residue limits (MRLs) and compliance for chemical applications on-farm. Read your Spray Diary carefully and check with processors regarding your spray program. Each year, the European Union revises the levels of acceptable MRLs and there are considerable changes which flow through to other markets as well, including the domestic market. In this year's diary, please note the information we’ve highlighted on Mancozeb. Annual Growers’ Forum Please save the date for the Annual Growers’ Forum on Thursday, 28 October, at Willow and Ivie, from 2pm. We have an exciting line-up to provide key information for growers. Harry Overly, CEO and managing director of Sun-Maid, will speak on what’s happening in California. We’ll also hear from Ferdie Botha, Raisins South Africa, on issues impacting growers in South Africa. Both of these keynote speakers will appear via video-link. Other information on the day will include results from the 10 Tonne Project, key issues around water, energy, pruning mechanisation and, of course, an overview of the 2021 harvest from the processors. v

Anne Mansell | CEO

ATGA CHAIR & CEO NEWS

Prepare for the new year A note from our chair Well, doesn’t it feel like Groundhog Day? While pruning is well under way, or almost complete for some, it feels like this season will be familiar in that it features many unknowns. I think I’ve talked about uncertainty in almost every column over the past year, and this upcoming season is no different! Big issues that we’ve faced and will continue to encounter include labour and markets. We talked a lot last time about the efforts of the ATGA board and team, working with local, state and federal governments on initiatives to increase availability of labour and diversify markets. The new industry video tools for seasonal workers will give a great insight into the industry for newcomers – thanks to fellow board members Nick Muraca and Joe Garreffa for their contributions! The announcement of the agriculture visa across the 10 ASEAN nations has been a positive step. I’m thankful for the work Anne Webster has done on this to date. If it gets off the ground, we hope it will provide some relief to growers, with labour supply continuing to shorten and growers expected to face great difficulty this season. We hope everyone is looking after themselves, and prioritising their mental wellbeing in these tough times. Stay safe!

Jeremey Boyd | Chair

News from our CEO The export season has now finished, with a number of growers having a disappointing end to the season. It has been a challenging year, for both domestic and export markets. Let’s hope that the current year is not repeated! We have reached that time of the year where industry members need to undertake their compulsory export registration for the coming season. Normally we'd host face-to-face events to talk through the registration process, but with multiple states in lockdown, I thought I'd highlight some important pieces of information. Please complete your application early! If there are questions about your application they may take time resolve. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has given short timeframes this year to supply the applied registration lists to them, so it is important to complete your application early. There are a number of things to be mindful of this year: - make sure your application number equates to the ABN that you supply - ensure you enter a physical address, not a PO Box

- remember to place a fruit fly trap in each registered block When naming your blocks, you only need to enter a numeric number, e.g. 01, 02, 03 (DAWE will not accept anything else) - if you have your own pack house then tick no to third party (only tick "third party" if you use someone else's pack house, you’ll need to know their TG number and enter that in the pack house section.) - you need to list your crop monitors (can be more than one), but remember all crop monitors must have completed the Tocal College crop monitoring course - remember to sign your application when complete and hit submit button. Payments must be made when your application is complete, and PayPal is the preferred method of payment. If you are exporting to China next year, it is important to mirror your 2019 registration block numbers to the best of your ability. At this stage, China only has 2019 registrations on the GACC website, so they will only be checking block labels against these. If this changes you will be notified immediately. Any new block registrations not included in your 2019 registration will not be allowed to enter China. The anomaly to this is that Australia has an annual registration process so if you are exporting to any other country Australia will check your 2021 registrations. v

- remember to tick yes to “orchard” box (failure to do this will not allow you to enter property or block maps)

Jeff Scott | CEO

VINE MAGAZINE 11

DRIED GRAPE NEWS

Project sets industry benchmark Dried Fruits Australia’s benchmarking project is capturing data from a range of sites in the hope that producers can make informed decisions about existing and future dried grape plantings to gain maximum returns. The third year of DFA’s Hort Innovation-funded benchmarking program is completed and there

cordon per hectare,” he said.

soil moisture monitoring program.

“It’s just a matter of comparing apples

Additionally, given they are all within

with apples because the cost of setting

the pumped irrigation district, water

these two systems up is obviously

supply reliability is relatively good as

different.”

the irrigation system maintenance

Fertiliser application The other piece of information that seems to be consistent is the application of fertiliser. The table indicates the amount of fertiliser that is taken out by your crop each year.

are a number of interesting themes

“Obviously if the crop is bigger it takes

appearing out of the data.

more nutrients out of the ground and

Yield results DFA field officer Stuart Putland said the first, and most obvious, is that for over half of the sites in the program, consistently producing 10 tonnes per hectare is a reality. “While there is a significant variation in yields each year, six sites have been able to maintain an average of over 10 tonnes per hectare,” Stuart said.

off your property when you wave it goodbye on the truck heading for the processor,” Stuart said. All six of the sites with averages of 10 tonnes per hectare or more were replacing nutrients to this level and beyond. A seventh site, the relatively young Sunglo with an average of 9.7 tonnes per hectare, also consistently received this level of fertiliser and it looks to be

beyond the farm gate is carried out by the water authority. Decision time After reviewing the data from the third benchmarking year, property managers were able to assess and make informed decisions about their operations. At the end of the most recent benchmarking year, two of the lowest yielding Sunmuscat patches were pulled out. “It was clear they were not at a profitable production level and were likely too old to expect improved performance,” Stuart said. The benchmarking program generated some solid information on the yield potential of a range of varieties, along with experience on meeting nutrition requirements.

These results have been achieved

building towards an average of above

“If you are looking to plant a new block

with a range of varieties, including

10 tonnes per hectare.

or replant a block this information

Sunmuscat, Sunglo, Selma Pete and Carina currants.

Nearly all of the participants producing

should be useful,” he said.

more than 10 tonnes per hectare

“For people looking at their current

The graph demonstrates the yields in

get nutritional advice to guide their

planting it will perhaps give an

each of the three years in tonnes per

fertiliser program.

indication of potential changes you

hectare, the average yield for each site and, importantly, the yield in each year in tonnes per kilometre of cordon. Stuart said the final data points – yield per kilometre of cordon – was to account for the fact that the row widths on each of the project sites varied from 3.6 metres down to 2.2 metres. “The result is that for 2.2-metre row

“The project didn’t identify any significant implication from differences in pest and disease control programs,” Stuart said.

system or how to manage a replanting program.” v For more information about the

“Essentially, they all seemed to achieve

benchmarking project, contact DFA

the same level of control.”

field officer Stuart Putland

Irrigation Irrigation will be investigated in later articles.

widths, there is 4.8 kilometres of

However, it is notable that all of the

cordon per hectare and for 3.6-metre

properties producing more than 10

row widths there is 2.8 kilometres of

tonnes per hectare use some sort of

12 VINE MAGAZINE

may want to look at in your production

on 03 5023 5174 or by email at projects@driedfruitsaustralia.org.au

DRIED GRAPE NEWS

BENCHMARKING YIELDS 2019 — 2021

16 14

TONNES

12 10 8 6 4 2 0

T CA

O GL

T CA

O GL

R CA

O GL

R CA

T CA US

N TA UL

VARIETIES AT EACH SITE T/Ha 2021

T/Ha 2020

T/Ha 2019

T/Km Cordon 2021

T/Km Cordon 2020

T/Km Cordon 2019

3 year average T/Ha

KG NUTRIENTS REMOVED PER HA PER SEASON

CROP SIZE

Low (<5t/ha)

Average

High (>10/ha)

VINE MAGAZINE 13

TABLE GRAPE NEWS

Workshops and workers

Fresh from the nimble industry development team

Based on the feedback you provided

agtech exhibitors will introduce

in our introductory visits, we're

themselves in initial two-minute

The team has been busy during the

facilitating some online maturity

speed presentations, with growers

workshops in August for growers in

able to further investigate individual

Emerald, Mundubbera and St George.

exhibitors, of specific interest to them,

past few months dodging Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions to connect with growers in four different

Plant health workshops are also

states.

planned for Western Australia and

Introductory one-on-one visits as

September and October respectively,

well as get togethers in the growing regions of Emerald, Mundubbera and St George in Queensland, and the

Queensland (Covid-19 permitting), in covering current pest and disease issues.

during the remainder of the event. Behind the scenes The team has also had input into the new edition of the Biosecurity Manual for Viticulture to ensure relevance to the table grape industry, the

Additionally, in conjunction with

next five-year Strategic Investment

Western Australia were completed

Citrus Australia, Dried Fruits

Plan (SIP) for Hort Innovation, and

during April and May. On both trips

Australia and SuniTAFE, we organised

is currently investigating chemical

we tried to see as many growers as

a “Frost, Farm Technology & Fruit

possible – however, we missed some

Fly” workshop for 31 August 2021.

and would love to catch up with you on

Industry speakers will present on

our next visits interstate. The more

frost mapping, return on investment

Growers Australia.

local visits to Sunraysia, Euston and

and control basics as well as fruit fly

As seasonal worker issues are not

Robinvale growers are continuing after

updates on predatory wasps, trapping,

going to go away, we are working

our stop/starts throughout June, July

spraying and monitoring. A number of

on some fact sheet material to help

and August.

innovative business and production

growers untangle some of the issues

Swan Valley and Carnarvon areas of

14 VINE MAGAZINE

application timing scenarios through an Agriculture Victoria project with Summerfruit Australia and Cherry

TABLE GRAPE NEWS

around labour sourcing, labour hire and

You can also read more about the

the processes involved in becoming

videos, including tips for using them on

an approved employer. If you want to

your devices, on p. 32. v

know more, come to one of our cross industry workshops to be held in

Alison, Jenny & Karen

Mildura, Robinvale and Swan Hill during

Industry development team

September to be better prepared for the next picking season. Speaking of seasonal workforce,

amacgregor@atga.net.au jtreeby@atga.net.au kconnolly@atga.net.au

ATGA procured a grant from the Victorian Government to attract, educate, train and retain a seasonal labour force for the Victorian table grape industry. If you read the Vine’s May 2021 edition you would’ve learnt a bit about these! The ATGA produced three short 360o films portraying a typical table grape property, to give potential seasonal workers an idea of what to expect during a picking season. To date two of the films have been completed. Over the past fortnight we’ve rolled these

anual Biosecurity M Industry re tu ul tic for the Vi of new Reducing the risk your vineyard Version 1.0

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2017-2021

INVEST MENT P LAN

out across our networks. You can check them out on our website, YouTube channel, social media, and they’ll also be distributed to labour hire providers to assist with worker uptake this season. Hopefully these films will be useful to attract overseas workers and entice workers already in Australia to try their hand at table grapes!

“Suppliers of improved grapevine rootstock and scion wood to the grape industry” Contact Gary Thomas Tel: (03) 5022 8499 Mob: 0418 997 730 PO Box 5051, Mildura Vic 3502 Email: vamvvia@bigpond.com Please see website for more information & order forms www.vamvvia.org

VINE MAGAZINE 15

PRUNE NEWS

Prune growers head to Young for new ideas Eager to learn more about how to better manage their farms, a small group of Griffith prune growers embarked on a study tour to Young.

weed seeds from establishing. It is

balancing micronutrients both in the

also home to a range of organisms

soil and through the plant itself.”

The trip was made possible through

Chris continually reduced his reliance

funding from the Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund program. Its prime objective is to develop leadership capacity and capability in industry bodies such as the Australian Prune Industry Association (APIA). The program also seeks to build skills at the grass roots level through regional visits to learn from other industry role models. The concept of regenerative farming is of increasing interest to many in the prune industry. To explore this method of farming, the itinerary included a stop at Chris Hall’s cherry orchard in Wombat.

that help break down the manure and incorporate the organic matter into the soil, unlocking nutrients and improving soil structure.” Paul said through these practices, on pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilisers and had a big impact on water retention and use.

with more accurate and timely sap tests. Paul said this has allowed Hall Family Orchards to find crop nutrition deficiencies four to six weeks sooner than tissue tests, which enabled him to correct ratios of alternative growth promoters such as the cations of

“In one year, 15 centimetres of straw

calcium and potassium to use instead

was spread under the trees. This

of nitrogen before trees reveal

reduced water consumption by 30 per

symptoms of disorders.

cent, and more grass grew in the rows,” he said. Paul said a quick field trip into Hall’s orchards revealed a highly diverse soil biota leading to increased organic matter and moisture retention and a well-structured soil.

Anne Furner is working on improving the soil health of her farm and was keen to join the study tour. “Visiting an industry leader in regenerative farming and seeing what he had achieved was an excellent way to learn more about the practice,”

“The ease at which a 12mm steel rod

she said.

could be inserted almost a metre

“We have started our journey to

into the ground was testament to the friable nature of the soil. Elsewhere

Chris has been practising chemical-

in the block, where there had been no

free farming since 2005, choosing to

inputs, the soil was not as yielding to

“grow with nature rather than trying to

the rod,” he said.

change it”.

Chris has also replaced tissue tests

“Chris also made the point that after

His innovative ideas and success were

20mm of rainfall, his regenerative side

recognised with the NSW Farmer of

of the watershed held rainfall much

the Year Award in 2019.

more effectively than the soil of his

Paul Geddes, a horticultural

neighbour across the gully, which would

improve soil health but were not sure what the next step would be. Chris has shown us that biodiversity of plant selection and introduction of microbes and fungi are extremely important. “As a result, we will incorporate a selection of flowering cover crops within our orchard this year to attract more beneficials and we will introduce compost teas and microbes to the soil.”

agronomist with Yenda Producers Co-

wash away into the gully.”

operative, said a major focus had been

Grant Delves found it interesting to

water supply to deal with the uncertain

visit a leading NSW farmer.

times of drought, and simultaneously

to increase the level of organic matter within the production system. “Chris does this by spraying composted teas and using green manures,” he said.

“When visiting any enterprise, it is always important to look at all viewpoints and to take on what is

Hall Family Orchards has increased

improved water efficiency so that each tree now receives less water. Phytech has been a part of that success.

“Clovers, peas, radish, cereal rye and

applicable to you and your farming

Sam Daniel from Phytech

oats are sown as cover crops to be

practices,” Grant said.

demonstrated the new technology and

slashed and used as green manure.

“Chris emphasised the importance of

how it helps with water management.

“The coverage provided by the crop, or

organic material, carbon and micro-

He said the technology is currently

as a mulch, reduces soil loss through

biom in the soil. We heard his thoughts

being used to monitor tree crops,

erosion and prevents germinating

on how these can be enhanced by

with a focus on almonds, macadamias,

16 VINE MAGAZINE

PRUNE NEWS

citrus, grapes, prunes and more in

“The real value of this technology is

Michael said the tour had been a

Australia and overseas.

found in optimisation of irrigation,

great success with visits to an export

ensuring the timing, duration and

packing shed and prune value-adding

frequency of irrigation events are

enterprises.

“Phytech uses direct plant sensing, continuously monitoring stem and trunk diameter, among other measurements,” Paul said. “The data is transferred to Phytech’s cloud-based IT platform where it is matched (correlated) to crop-specific plant status. The output is visualised in

tailored to the tree’s needs, potentially saving water without detriment to yield and quality.” Tour organiser Michael Zalunardo emphasised the importance of water efficiency.

real time and displayed in colour-coded

“Water is such a precious commodity

crop status.

that getting better value from each

“If the output is red, the trees may need further investigation to understand

megalitre of water is essential in modern farming,” he said.

what is happening in that particular

“Reduced water use helps the

block. If the output is green, you

bottom line, and with better water

can assume the tree is performing

management, can also improve tree

as desired.

health and ultimately yields.”

“It was good to get prune growers together and a fantastic opportunity to share information and learn from industry leaders,” Michael said. v Phil Chidgzey APIA national secretariat secretary@ausprunes.org.au Top left: Cover crops are grown between the rows and the tree line sprayed and mulched. Below: Regenerative farming practices have led to a friable soil with good organic matter and soil biota. Top right: Lunch break at Wombat. Below: Chris Hall of Hall Family Orchards.

VINE MAGAZINE 17

NEWS

Rich history in the spotlight

More than 100 years of Dried Fruits Australia’s organisational history is being archived to ensure it’s preserved for years to come.

Covid-19 travel restrictions, Nikki has

While the archiving project offers

the week we were going to be here,”

insights into the industry’s long

she said.

history, historian Nikki Henningham

“This is something that really can’t be

says the records also paint a picture of social, environmental and technological advances. The Melbourne historian, who also has years of archiving experience, was engaged to tackle the mammoth task of preserving DFA’s historical records after the organisation successfully applied for a local history grant in 2019. While the project was delayed due to

18 VINE MAGAZINE

made the most of her several visits to the DFA headquarters this year.

somewhat preserved over time. “We’re lucky because if it’d been in the tropics, most of this would be gone by

“We were planning to come up in

now. The dry air is actually a friend of

March 2020, and quite literally the

the archive,” Nikki explained.

week that everything closed down was

done remotely – you’ve got to get in and amongst it.” And she’s done just that, sifting through boxes of thousands of albums, folders, photographs, clippings and records of the organisation. Just as the industry’s dried product thrives in the dry Mildura climate,

“We’re also very lucky, from what I understand, that when the offices moved from Deakin Avenue, whoever was involved in that move saw all this stuff and saved it. “We’re lucky that this is still OK, but it needs to be cared for. The DFA are to be congratulated for taking on the initiative of applying for the funds to get the work done.” While much was saved, very little was preserved from before 1920.

it’s those exact conditions which

“And the organisation stretches back

have meant the records have been

a good 20 years before that, so there’s

NEWS

a lot of that stuff that just isn’t there,

“What stands out is that even

which is a shame,” Nikki said.

though the records here are clearly

She said the long-term aim would be to create an online finding guide for all the records. “At the moment it’s about sorting, labelling and preserving things in a way that’s meaningful.”

organisational records and are useful for telling the story of the organisation, they also speak to a bigger, broader social history. “For instance the recipes, you can look at them and see they’ve got more recipes for working women, so things

In an ideal world, with additional

were building in recognition of who

funding and resources, the catalogue

they’re trying to sell to.”

would be digitised in an archive for anyone to access.

Nikki said technological advancements – inside and outside

“What we will end up doing is having

the industry – could be followed

some of these photographed so that

through the records.

people will be able to get an indication of what’s here,” she said.

“There’s a period where there’s lots of pressure cooker recipes, and then

Within the documents are records

there’s microwave recipes and so

from 1988 of a push to establish a

forth,” she said.

child-minding scheme during harvest,

“I think there’s a recognition that

while other documents showed the industry organisation’s advocacy to address river health and salinity issues.

those sorts of social stories are as important and as interesting as organisational sort of stuff – as important as your gadget days.

Several years earlier, there was correspondence with the then Sunraysia Ethnic Advisory Council regarding concerns for work and being able to secure labour at critical times. “It seems the more things change, the more things stay the same,” Nikki said.

“Don’t assume that just because it’s about everyday stuff that it’s not interesting, because it’s the everyday that is the real source of history.” v This page & left: Historian Nikki Henningham has spent weeks sorting, labelling and preserving DFA’s historical archive after the organisation successfully applied for a local history grant.

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VINE MAGAZINE 19

The backbone of industry W OME N I N H O RTI C U LTU R E

Welcome to the third instalment of our Women in Horticulture series. Women have played an integral role in horticulture for centuries, from areas as diverse as production, research and business management. We continue to celebrate their role by speaking to women in all areas of horticulture, from trailblazers to emerging leaders.

Robyn Bumbak Human resources and quality assurance manager — Bumbak & Sons

not my plan. After a stint in teaching I found my skillset could be applied in the areas of food safety and HR within the industry.

paperwork is rising exponentially. How has the industry changed for women? Well, women have been involved in farming forever, just more publicly now.

Who or what has inspired you in your career?

What is an accomplishment/career moment you’re proud of?

My parents. There are no days off in dairy farming. They both worked incredibly hard on farm whilst always making time for us kids. They are the epitome of teamwork, hard work and parenting. In addition, Mark’s passion for growing and the industry was inspiring and made the transition to horticulture easy.

Navigating the process of becoming an Approved Employer in the Seasonal Worker Program and then finally seeing recruits step on-farm in 2018. Initially it was a way to help shore up labour while our business expanded but it has become so much more. It is so rewarding having people return year after year and seeing the difference the program can make to lives.

How long have you been working in horticulture?

What is your favourite thing about working in your industry?

21 years. In 1997 I moved to Carnarvon WA as a primary teacher for a year. As is often the case I met and married a farmer (Mark), left teaching behind in 2000 to work with Mark, his brother Dave and parents Dennis and Helen on their family farm, Bumbak & Sons.

Definitely the people. Engaging with people within the industry, whether it is our amazing staff, networking with colleagues or leading tour groups showcasing our industry. Guaranteed, it is the people and friendships along the way.

Did you always want to work in the sector?

Has your industry changed (in general/ for women) since you began? If so, how?

I grew up on a dairy farm with three sisters, all of whom were very hands on – me not so much – so it was definitely

The biggest change in the industry generally I believe would be compliance, e.g., food safety, HR, OHS. The growth in

20 VINE MAGAZINE

What advice would you give to the next generation of females about working in horticulture? Don’t be afraid to be really involved, network, ask questions, listen to and offer advice. How would you encourage women to take on roles, or get promotions, in horticulture? Network, participate, be engaged and value your contribution.

FEATURE

somehow keep the complexity of production in their heads; they adapt; they are curious. 3T he total dedication of some researchers and industry leaders, past and present, who tirelessly support and represent growers so that as a region we grow crops more productively, efficiently and sustainably.

Alison MacGregor ATGA project & team lead – Extension Citrus Australia agrichemical manager Viticulture consultant How long have you been working in horticulture? 30 years. Wow!!! That’s such a long time. It has passed very quickly. I fell in love with grapevines when I was just fresh out of university, working at a vineyard and winery in the Yarra Valley. Then I landed my dream job, in research and extension with what is now Agriculture Victoria at Irymple. I have been in Sunraysia and working in horticulture now for 30 years. After 17 years with Agriculture Victoria I joined the private sector as a consultant in viticulture and horticulture. Did you always want to work in the sector? As a naïve school-leaver I just wanted to help save the planet by feeding people more sustainably. At university I became fascinated by soils – maybe we could feed more people sustainably by understanding soils? But as a young graduate at Agriculture Victoria at Irymple I worked on R&D projects for the grape and citrus industries, looking at chemicals, residues and integrated pest management. That ignited a passion that still drives me after 30 years. Who or what has inspired you in your career? 1 S eeing change. The wheels of change turn slowly in industry, but if you stay around long enough, you get to see the positive change. I feel very privileged to have contributed in small ways to those changes and that keeps me inspired. 2 G rowers inspire me. They take such risks but stay so optimistic; they

What is your favourite thing about working in your industry? Every year/month/week/day brings new challenges, work, ideas, learning, people. I am always discovering new things. It's creative – there is always room for new ideas. The shift in industry is always towards being cleaner, safer, fairer, greener. And I get to spend time in an office but also outside in vineyards and orchards. I love the variety. Has your industry changed (in general / for women) since you began? If so, how? The industry has changed in so many ways since I started in 1989. Perhaps the biggest three are paperwork, water and technology. 1S uper boring: There is much, much more paperwork now, associated with quality assurance. 2H appy and sad: Irrigation water became a tradeable commodity, to encourage improvements in water use efficiency and so reduce salinity in irrigated soils. Salinity is much lower now, and water is used much more efficiently. That’s good. But I feel sad recalling the drought years, when many smaller familyrun vineyards or orchards were only able to keep up their bank interest payments by selling their water and eventually their farms. The people that make up the industry changed as a result. There are fewer family farms now, and more corporate or investor-owned farms. 3E xciting and enabling: We have much more technology to play with. In 1989, orchard and vineyard managers relied on a shovel and personal experience to gauge how their crops were growing and to manage crop load, irrigation, pests and nutrition. Now it is not unusual for a farm manager or agronomist to use drones, robotics, soil probes,

hyperspectral scanners, crop cameras and satellite imagery. Every minute, phenomenal volumes of data are uploaded from crops – describing plant stress, soil water deficit, plant nutrient status, insect movements, microclimates, and logging machinery movement. On a more personal level, the gender balance is more sensible now. I always knew that there were lots of women in horticulture, for example, managing farm accounts, but they were not visible. In my early days, I was often the only woman in the room, or on the team. Now there are many fantastic women taking all kinds of roles in all parts of horticulture. At last we are just concerned with addressing the issues at hand, and not bogged down by gender. What is an accomplishment/career moment you’re proud of? I am gratified when I see evidence that what I have done has been relevant and useful. For example, when a client is successful with an insurance or legal claim; or knowing that a “ute-guide” on pests, diseases and disorders of grapevines that I co-authored is still being reprinted and sold after 25 years; or when a research project actually leads to a change in grower practices or government policy. I doubt I can take sole credit for anything because I have always drawn on input from others in the industry. What advice would you give to the next generation of females about working in horticulture? Know that we really want you to succeed and want you to stay in horticulture. Build a network of mentors. Put your hand up to take on roles. Don’t think about gender. If it’s not an issue for you it probably won’t be an issue for anyone else. Just think about how you or your team will get the job done. Work out what aspect of the industry you feel passionate about, and then make that a lasting focus. See it through. It won’t be an issue for everyone else, or all the time, and it won’t necessarily be in your various job descriptions, but that’s exactly why you need to stay with it and make sure it doesn’t get ignored in the long game.

VINE MAGAZINE 21

FEATURE

Who or what has inspired you in your career?

Karen Connolly Industry development officer Australian Table Grape Association How long have you been working in horticulture? I have worked in the horticultural industry for over 30 years. Like many young people of my era in Sunraysia, I started my horticultural experiences picking grapes and citrus on various properties for pocket money. In later years my parents purchased a citrus property in Curlwaa NSW and there the seed was sown. Did you always want to work in the sector? I was encouraged by my father’s love of nature, both animals and plants, and as a result they have been a substantial part of both my personal and professional lives. However, I soon realised my love of the botanical was what I should focus on professionally. This focus was stimulated while working on my parents’ fruit property, which led to my enrolment in horticultural studies, after which I gained employment with the CSIRO, at Merbein South, Victoria. Thus, my horticultural career really began.

22 VINE MAGAZINE

I have been lucky enough to have had some great mentors over the years, who have not only inspired but encouraged me to go forward. Men and women. Always providing me with the help, guidance and support to achieve my goals. I’ve also always had a self-driven desire to assist fellow horticulturists. If I can help make horticultural production an easier, safer, more cost-effective process for all involved, that’s my goal and driving force. Has your industry changed (in general / for women) since you began? If so, how? The horticulture industry has changed greatly during my time, with many previously labour-intensive tasks being replaced by mechanised and automated processes. With this has come the need to increase safety awareness in a workplace that sees people and machinery working and operating in the same area. In recent times robotics have also made an appearance in our sector and I see this potentially freeing producers from previously laborious or time-consuming tasks. What is your favourite thing about working in your industry? While working within organisations such as the CSIRO and the Department of Primary Industries, I was part of research and extension programs that developed and encouraged adoption of new concepts by industry. I enjoy seeing the camaraderie and sometimes healthy competition between different horticultural sectors that eventually results in this adoption, especially when it enables holistic benefits. On another level, I have also enjoyed sharing my experiences to assist employees

appreciate the significance of their role, guide young people to recognise their goals, abilities and strengths and encourage employers, growers and managers to recognise the importance and value of safer work practices. What is an accomplishment/career moment you’re proud of? I spent many of my working years "doing the hard yards" in labourintensive field work. So when I started working for Sun World International I finally felt like I had achieved a significant career goal. I was finally in a position where I could advise, learn from and share experiences, ideas and concepts to horticulturalists around the globe - as part of an international agronmoic team - in order to improve farm outputs through better operational and production systems. What advice would you give to the next generation of females about working in horticulture? Regardless of gender it can be a rewarding career choice for those with a passion for horticulture, but don’t expect it to be easy. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, be committed and seek out and listen to the many voices of experience in your chosen field. How would you encourage women to take on roles, or get promotions, in horticulture? For anyone in any field I think the advice would be the same – don’t give up. Keep upskilling. Know your worth. Know you have something to contribute. Know you are entitled to a voice, but, be sure of your subject. Remember you don’t have to accept only backseat positions – sometimes you are just as entitled to take the steering wheel. v

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NEWS

Looking back on industry project June 2021 brought to an end the latest Hort Innovation-funded DFA extension program. After finishing the final report on the three years of this three-day a week project, I thought I should share with you the summary of what this grower-funded project has delivered. The primary aim of the project was to work with dried grape producers in promoting and exchanging leading and emerging research and knowledge on production techniques to assist with productivity improvements. Three key delivery elements of this project were: 1. Workshop – Reducing pruning labour This workshop, back in June 2017, looked for ideas to reduce the cost of winter pruning dried grapes. Pruning is the biggest cost activity in dried grape production, as documented in the project’s benchmarking program, but more of that later. The workshop included leading dried grape growers, processors, national and international robotics experts and local machinery and electrical experts. The workshop identified three key areas for detailed investigation.: a. How well can the physiology of the swing arm production system adapt to mechanised pruning?

areas of investment associated with the issue. DFA, with support from individual growers, has continued this work into a new project with the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (MRIC) and La Trobe University, with funding support from the Federal Government to develop a prototype mechanical pruning system. 2. Delivery of technology transfer events Through the project we ran 34 on-site or online technology transfer events incorporating 42 separate information presentation sessions. In addition to this we conducted four non-site specific technology transfer activities, including the development of a Certificate IV in Horticulture for the dried grape industry, a twoyear trial program on the use of chlormequat sprays to meet European MRL requirements in currant production, a revision of the content and layout of the industry Best Practice Guides and coordination of a development program to fund, build and trial a mechanised vine pruning system as mentioned above. Evaluation data from the on-site and online technology transfer events show that the participants intended to use much of the information shared during the events.

c. Making incremental improvements to current pruning systems.

Analysis of the 42 presentations evaluated over the life of the project show that the average intent to use the information in participants’ farm business was scored 4.4 on a 5-point scale, where 5 was the strongest intent to use.

The detail behind these concepts was developed into a report for the Hort Innovation dried grape Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP), recommending consideration of nine

The project’s 18 online videos recorded at the technology transfer events have had just over 4500 views and will remain as an information source on DFA’s YouTube channel.

b. Designing an efficient and effective cutting system that can prune up to five acres a day leaving only a small amount of hand pruning.

24 VINE MAGAZINE

Over the three years of the project, attendance records show there were 449 attendances at events from 120 individual participants. This indicates significant return business by participants and that nearly half of the estimated 250 growers in the industry participated in these events. 3. Benchmarking production systems The project has delivered annual benchmarking on 12 sites over three seasons across the Sunraysia region. Key elements of the program have involved capturing viticulture activities during the year with a particular focus on time “spent on” and “timing of” activities and inputs on all key activities during the year. Each of the sites has been mapped and data collected across three seasons looking at all cultural activities, including pruning, nutrition, disease control, weed control, canopy management, irrigation, wetting, cutting and harvesting. The program also demonstrated the financial and labour saving benefits of the minimal pruning system, which reduced pruning costs by 28 per cent. You can see a report on the last three years of data in this issue of the Vine. v Stuart Putland Dried Fruits Australia field officer 03 5023 5174 projects@driedfruitsaustralia.org.au

NEWS

Chlormequat put to the test

This trial was established in September of the 2019/20 season to identify whether it's feasible to reduce or even eliminate chlormequat use in Carina currant production systems. While there are now two years of information, this research will need further trials in coming years before we can be certain of the results. Maximum residue limits (MRL) for chlormequat in dried grapes delivered into Europe was reduced significantly in 2018 down to 0.05 mg/kg, compared to the Australian MRL of 0.75 mg/kg. Why do we need to use chlormequat? As many would be aware, a lot of research completed on both Zante and Carina currant production systems in the late 1960s to the late 1970s showed a positive impact of applying chlormequat on the percentage of berries set by the vine. Primarily, chlormequat reduces the vine’s natural production of gibberellic acid leading to reduced leaf and cane growth. So, if applied just before berry set, it theoretically allows the vine to divert its energy into setting berries. An application of gibberellic acid later in the season will assist in increasing the size of the currant berries, further enhancing overall production. Why is berry set a problem in Carina currants? The initial research work undertaken when the Carina currant variety was released in 1975 indicated that the caps may not fall easily from the flowers and hence not allow them to be fertilised properly. This work also indicated that this problem is more pronounced in years with unfavourable (wet and humid) conditions during this phase of flowering.

The chlormequat trial This year the trial added a fourth treatment that applied only 25 per cent of the chlormequat label rate because last year’s trial showed that even 50 per cent of the chlormequat label application rate still resulted in residue above the European Union MRL. - 100% of the chlormequat label rate at bunch droop – 76 parts per million (ppm) or 13 ml of Get Set per 100 l water - 50% of the chlormequat label rate at bunch droop – 38 parts per million (ppm) or 6 ml of Get Set per 100 l water -2 5% of the chlormequat label rate at bunch droop – 19 parts per million (ppm) or 3 ml of Get Set per 100 l water -0 % of the chlormequat label rate at bunch droop – 0 parts per million (ppm) All of these were applied at a spray volume of about 2300l per hectare on 28 October, 2020. During January 2021, a minimum of 15 bunches per treatment at each site were taken and weighed and all of the berries counted. Overall, just over 68,000 berries were counted. Using all of these berry counts, the graph below shows, for a second season in succession, that there was no real difference between the 100%, 50%, 25% or 0% chlormequat treatments. This trial found that for these

vineyards in 2021 there was no need to spray chlormequat. However, this trial alone cannot say this will always hold true. The season was not wet and humid during flowering, which is thought to be the major cause of poor berry set. More trials will be needed over several years before any findings can be confirmed. A note on MRLs After the fruit was dried, but just before it was harvested, samples from each of the treatments were collected for residue testing. All of the treatments resulted in residue levels below the Australian MRL, but that even the 50 per cent and 25 per cent of “label rate” treatment didn’t meet the new European Union MRL. There also seemed to be enough variation at these low MRL levels to make year-to-year results quite different. This means it probably isn’t feasible to look at a 25 per cent of label rate because it can’t be guaranteed to meet the EU MRL. DFA will keep working on this issue with more trial work next season. For this coming season, talk to your processors about the use of chlormequat in currants. Finally thanks to all of those people who helped out with the trial, Ashley Johnstone, John Hunt, Michael Treeby, Sunbeam Foods and Australian Premium Dried Fruit. v

MEAN BERRIES PER BUNCH 2020-21

700 600

BERRIES PER BUNCH

The second year of results from DFA’s trial on chlormequat use are in.

500 400 300 200 100 0

19 38 CHLORMEQUAT TREATMENT (PPM)

VINE MAGAZINE 25

RESEARCH

Improving table grape quality during cool storage and export Over the past four years, the Serviced Supply Chains (SSC) project has conducted research to improve the quality, consistency and value of Victorian table grapes destined for export markets in Asia. Grape quality can be reduced significantly by inadequate vineyard disease control, poor temperature management after harvest and long storage periods. Fungal rot development, rachis browning, berry shrivel and berry drop are among the main contributors to quality loss. The table grape industry is highly dependent on sulphur dioxide (SO2) generator pads to prevent or reduce quality loss within domestic and export supply chains. SO2 pads are generally effective in preventing rot development; however, their use rarely takes into account vineyard agronomic and disease control practices, the degree of latent infection in harvested fruit, differences in susceptibility of grape cultivars, potential for berry and rachis bleaching, and supply chain conditions. With the above factors in mind, the findings of this research are summarised below. Monitoring grape export shipment temperatures in “real-time” More than 50 air and sea freight table grape shipments were monitored from Victoria through to Asian countries using a range of realtime temperature loggers. Data collected were readily accessible via web-based dashboards, potentially allowing growers and exporters to make immediate informed logistical and marketing decisions if fruit temperatures increased above optimum, rather than having to wait for the consignment to arrive at the final destination. In the monitored

26 VINE MAGAZINE

shipments, excellent temperature management was observed during sea freight, while on occasion temperature spikes of up to 5°C were observed during unloading of containers and during transport to importer storage facilities. Real-time logger technologies were detailed in a previous Vine article (“Real-time temp loggers tell the story”, July– September 2019, pp. 26–7). Developing commercial protocols to determine fruit rot risk at harvest A rot risk assessment protocol has been developed for table grapes utilising berry incubation preharvest or at harvest to determine the potential for postharvest rot development in batches of table grapes (Figure 1). At harvest this method can be used to classify fruit batches as low, medium, high risk for potential rot development, and the marketing route decided to reduce the risk of fruit losses or claims by customers (i.e., rapid domestic, short-term cool storage or export). This protocol can also be used commercially by growers to determine which vineyard blocks produce fruit with lower or higher rot risk potential, as demonstrated by large differences in botrytis incidence after harvest incubation found in 50 cartons of Luisco grapes within a single vineyard block in Mildura during April 2021 (Figure 3). Understanding the effect of grape cultivar on postharvest quality during simulated sea freight The potential for postharvest quality loss, for example, the rate of rachis browning, berry cracking, or susceptibility to rots, can vary greatly between grape cultivars. Our research has studied five grape cultivars (Thompson Seedless, organic and conventional Crimson Seedless, Red Globe, Sweet Sapphire and Luisco) under simulated sea freight and extended cool storage conditions.

The aim of this research was to determine relative storage potential and major quality issues for each cultivar. In general, later-season red and black cultivars were less prone to berry cracking, rot development and rachis browning than white cultivars, although disease inoculum levels at harvest, cooling delays and berry damage had a major influence on the rate of quality loss. Determining the effects of delays between harvest and cooling on grape quality In a recent experiment using Luisco grapes treated with SO2, delays of four or six hours between harvest and initial cooling significantly increased total rot incidence compared to delays of one hour or less under relatively mild harvest temperatures of less than 25°C (Figure 2). These results suggest that reducing delays between harvest and cooling can suppress postharvest disease development even under conditions where fruit are determined to be at high risk of rot development during storage and marketing (using the harvest incubation protocol). Conclusions - Grape cultivar greatly influenced postharvest quality. - Rot risk assessment via fruit incubation can be used commercially to determine rot risk potential in harvested grapes and to find high risk areas in the vineyard. - Reducing delays between harvest and initial cooling is likely to suppress postharvest rots, particularly for high rot risk fruit. -V ineyard factors including agronomic practices, bunch latent infection and disease inoculum load at harvest, greatly influence postharvest rot development even when using recommended cooling, SO2 treatment and good temperature management practices.

BIOSECURITY RESEARCH

Future research

Acknowledgements

Although there are many factors that influence postharvest grape quality, research programs with the most benefit to industry should focus on: (1) understanding the influence of cultivar and vineyard factors and practices on fruit quality after harvest, particularly those related to postharvest rot risk potential; and (2) determining the effectiveness of various SO2 pad technologies in reducing rot development in fruit with high rot risk potential. Furthermore, optimum SO2 concentrations that effectively control rot development while minimising berry bleaching for export cultivars under commercial conditions need to be determined. Finally, the dynamics of in-carton SO2 production as influenced by grape cultivar and temperature are largely unknown, as is the extent of SO2 movement within packed grapes, which can now be determined utilising novel in-carton SO2 sensor technology. v John Lopresti and Glenn Hale, Agriculture Victoria

The Serviced Supply Chains project is funded by the Hort Frontiers Asian Markets Fund, part of the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative developed by Hort Innovation with coinvestment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland; Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Victoria); Manbullo (mangoes); Montague Fresh (summerfruit); Glen Grove (citrus); and the Australian Government, plus in-kind support from The University of Queensland and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. More information about the SSC project can be found at: hin.com.au/current-initiatives/ serviced-supply-chain

Temperature monitoring and table grape research findings from the SSC project will be presented at an industry workshop in Mildura in early September 2021.

Figure 1: Luisco grapes incubated at 18°C for rot risk prediction. Figure 2: Luisco grapes packed into cartons during a delayed cooling experiment. Figure 3: Variability in Botrytis rot incidence after incubation for four days at 18°C in 50 cartons of Luisco grapes harvested from five plots within a commercial vineyard in Mildura during April 2021.

FIGURE 3 VARIABILITY IN BOTRYTIS INCIDENCE 80

PLOT 1

PLOT 2

PLOT 3

PLOT 4

PLOT 5

BORYTIS INCIDENCE %

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

CARTON

VINE MAGAZINE 27

NEWS

Sharing sustainability stories Hort Innovation has released the Australian-grown hort_infographic.pdf Horticulture Sustainability Framework, a guide to help the horticulture sector share its sustainable, ethical, and safe farming practice stories with stakeholders. The initiative aims to help the industry share their sustainability credentials and stories, as consumers and investors increasingly ask for evidence of ethical and sustainable practises from their food producers. This is a national project developed over more than 12 months and presents an opportunity for growers to take an active role in leading the sustainability narrative across horticulture. The framework details 17 focus areas that align with existing business measures, as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Each area contains its own sustainability goals and indicators to measure the progress of these goals. The framework provides data sources to help growers gather the facts and information consistent with best practice international standards. More than 600 industry participants told Hort Innovation what areas they see as priorities in the sustainability space. The framework was developed with input from producers, employees, industry peak bodies, service and input suppliers, and researchers. Financers and investors, marketers and exporters, retailers, governments, and consumers also had input. The sustainability framework provides a logical process to gather together the many pieces of existing

28 VINE MAGAZINE

information to share horticulture’s story. This28/7/21 will help9:43 industry 1 am

bodies to understand where the sector is at now – where there are strengths and which areas to prioritise for future investment or policy work. Australian horticulture is continuously adopting environmentally responsible tools and systems. Soil health and water efficiency measures are already commonplace in industry and this project will build on these strengths.

sustainability focussed projects that Hort Innovation is delivering for grower levy payers. All of these contribute to the objective for agriculture to reach $100 billion by 2030. v Find the Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework at www.horticulture.com.au Below: Infographic is courtesy of Hort Innovation's Australian-Grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework June 2021.

The Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework is complemented by a suite of

Nourish & Nurture

People & Enterprise

Planet & Resources

Less waste

Food to nourish people Plants to nurture communities Safe, traceable, quality

Water Landscapes Climate Energy Biosecurity

Productive, profitable growers Safe & ethical work Leadership & governance Innovation Thriving communities Trade & economic value

Food waste Packaging Farm waste

Nourish & Nurture recognises the role of Australian horticultural

produce in improving diets, health and wellbeing by providing safe, quality food and greenlife.

People & Enterprise identifies the strong links between the people, enterprises, communities and economic value of Australian-grown horticulture.

Planet & Resources focusses on reducing any impacts on the natural environment and on the dependence of horticultural production on resources, biosecurity and resilience to climatic variability. Less waste is about reducing all forms of waste in horticultural production.

CONFIDENCE GROWS HERE

A new level of confidence in DMIs Class-leading, flexible control of powdery mildew in grapes A uniquely adaptable molecule - the first of its type - within Group 3 (DMI) fungicides Better residue profile than alternative triazoles, with approved MRL’s for EU export Molecular flexibility and exceptionally strong cellular binding deliver robust efficacy at a low volume of active ingredient Rapid uptake and lasting residual protection

BIOSECURITY

Mass trapping female fruit flies in vineyards Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) continues to be a problem in Sunraysia, with considerable implications for table grapes grown in this region.

mated female flies than commercially

said. “Does it complement the other

available traps in both stone and pome

management tools growers use? Will it

fruit orchards.

be cost-effective? We are keen to hear

In the Hort Innovation project, Agriculture Victoria is looking at how

Dr Jessi Henneken

protein traps, might be incorporated

Agriculture Victoria

into a mass trapping strategy

that aims to develop a mass trapping

specifically for table grapes.

around table grape vineyards. The project is funded by Hort Innovation using the table grape research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Female Qfly are responsible for damaging produce by stinging fruits and laying eggs, which develop into hungry grubs. A mass trapping strategy, where traps are placed in and around the vineyard to catch these flies, could help manage Qfly as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. The traps must contain a powerful attractant to lure the flies. The

“Vineyards are different environments to fruit orchards, so our first step has been to better understand how Qfly behave in and around the vineyard,” said Dr Paul Cunningham, who leads the project for Agriculture Victoria. “Last season, we set out different types of traps to explore this, and learnt quite a lot about trapping in vineyards – such as the importance of perimeter trapping, and targeting ‘hot spots’ such as host trees growing close to the vines,” Dr Cunningham said. The project is also conducting laboratory studies to examine whether different varieties of grapes are more

attraction of female Qfly to yeast-

susceptible to Qfly.

based protein baits has been well

“This was something we heard from

known for many years and is used in

growers, so we wanted to test it in the

bait sprays and traps such as Biotrap,

lab,” said Dr Jessi Henneken, who is

but research indicates that it is

leading the experimental work on this

predominantly young, unmated, female flies that are attracted to protein, which the flies need to develop eggs. Mated females have a decreased attraction to these baits and may avoid capture by the traps, going on to lay

project. “So far, our results suggest that different varieties of grape might indeed be more attractive to female Qfly, while other varieties better support larval development.”

their eggs in the crop.

The team intends to conduct more field

Over the last few years, Agriculture

are keen to share their findings with

Victoria has designed and field evaluated a trap that specifically targets mated female Qfly. The new trap mimics a juicy ripe fruit and combines a visual cue (a red sphere)

trials in the 2021/2022 season and the table grape industry and receive feedback that will help develop a mass trapping strategy that is well-suited for table grapes.

with a specially designed synthetic

“We want to make sure that any mass

fruit odour. In field trials the new

trapping strategy we develop is

trap captured significantly more

practical for growers,” Dr Henneken

30 VINE MAGAZINE

management strategies.” v

this new trap, together with existing

In 2020, a new project kicked off strategy targeting female Qfly in and

from the people who will be using the

BIOSECURITY

High priority exotic pest threat S POT TED L A N TER N F LY

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper pest from Asia. The feeding of spotted lanternflies impacts crop quality, yield and the survival of grapevines. It has caused significant impacts to grape production overseas. The spotted lanternfly feeds on at least 70 species of crops, trees and woody ornamentals. Spotted lanternfly adults are up to 27 mm long and approximately 12 mm wide with large, visually striking wings. The forewings are predominantly grey with black spots which transition into a grey network of veins with black cells towards the wing tips. Contrasting patches of bright red and black with a white band are distinctive features of the hind wings. The head and legs of the spotted lanternfly are predominantly black. The abdomen is a bright yellow with horizontal black stripes. Nymphs typically range in size from 3.1 mm to 12 mm throughout their developmental stages. Nymphs in their early stages of development appear black with white spots (1st to 3rd instar) and turn red on the upper body (4th instar) before becoming adults. Newly laid egg masses are yellowish-brown in colour and are covered in a waxy, brownish-grey secretion. Egg masses are approximately 25 mm long. Older egg masses lose the waxy secretion to expose the “seed-like” eggs, often aligned in four to seven vertical rows.

Signs and symptoms The spotted lanternfly overwinters in egg masses that are deposited on

smooth surfaces including host plant surfaces, non-host materials and man-made structures (e.g. vehicles, machinery, shipping containers and garden furniture). Nymphs emerge and begin feeding in the spring or early summer by sucking sap from young stems and branches. Adults appear during summer and tend to inhabit a narrower range of preferred hosts including the tree of heaven and grapevine. Large numbers of spotted lanternfly adults and nymphs frequently gather within the canopy or at the base of the host plant. Spotted lanternflies are easiest to locate at dawn and dusk when they are migrating up or down the plant. Spotted lanternfly feeding causes wilting, leaf curling and dieback and reduced resilience to other stresses. Communal feeding results in wounds on the plant and the discharge of sugar-rich liquids along the stems, branches or trunk of the host. This sugary discharge attracts other insects (e.g. bees and wasps) and promotes fungal growth (e.g. sooty moulds). Large patches of fungal growth occurring on leaves or at the base of the tree may produce a fermented odour and cause the eventual death of the plant. The symptoms of spotted lanternfly could be confused with many sap-sucking insects and diseases. Australian planthoppers in the Fulgoridae family could be mistaken for spotted lanternfly.

Protecting your vineyard Monitor your vines for reduction in plant health or yield and any associated symptoms (sugary excretions from host plants, elevated insect activity or fungal growth) which should prompt further inspection of the crop for pest

activity. Check your crop, property and any new equipment for egg masses, nymphs and adult stages of spotted lanternfly throughout the year. Make sure you are familiar with common pests and crop symptoms, so any unusual observations will alert you to the possible presence of exotic pests. Manage the risk of spotted lanternfly by controlling the associated and preferred host plants including tree of heaven. v If you see anything unusual, call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. This series from Plant Health Australia, the national coordinator of the government–industry partnership for plant biosecurity in Australia, features exotic pests that would survive, spread and establish in Australian vineyards should they get through border quarantine controls. Growers should be familiar with their appearance and symptoms so that they can distinguish them from the pests that they normally encounter. Below left: Adult spotted lanternfly specimen with distinct wing and abdominal patterns and colouration. Middle: Adult spotted lanternfly on a host plant. (Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org) Right: Communal feeding behaviour of spotted lanternfly. (Image courtesy Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org)

VINE MAGAZINE 31

MARKETING

Viewers take a spin of new industry tools The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) has put its own spin on new industry tools, crafting 360° videos to entice and retain seasonal workers. The project was funded through Agriculture Victoria’s Seasonal Worker Industry Support Program, and involves the production of three videos, two of which have just been launched on the ATGA website, and will be distributed to labour hire companies and across wider seasonal workforce networks. The Harvesting Greatness series will include two films which concentrate on the technical elements of picking, packing and preparing grapes for market. The third film will be released around September, and is a teaser video, designed to entice potential recruits into the table grape industry, by showcasing the Sunraysia region, lifestyle and the Murray River, picturesque vineyards with sweeping vine rows, and introducing viewers to the faces of typical Australian table grape growers.

32 VINE MAGAZINE

What is 360° video? 360° is sometimes described as immersive video, or virtual reality. 360° cameras capture overlapping fields of view using multiple lenses, filming all views of an environment. To watch a 360° video clips, one can use a laptop, a web browser, a mobile phone, or a VR headset. The ways to play a 360° video clip on them varies from one to other. There are three ways to watch a 360° video: PC On a desktop PC (locally, and online), the viewer can use the mouse to pan and look around. The Windows 10 default movie player can play 360° videos and supports “look around” by dragging the mouse on the video. The default media player (QuickTime player) on the Mac does not support 360° videos, so you will need a thirdparty player. We recommend the VLC player mac version. YouTube supports 360° videos. You can watch it with a desktop web

browser, and drag the mouse to look around. Mobile device On a mobile device, the viewer can either use a finger to pan and look around or directly point/tilt the device to where the viewer wants to look. Access 360° by using the YouTube app, or on Android you can use the VR media player app. Virtual reality (VR) headset In a virtual reality (VR) headset, the viewer is virtually wrapped by the video and can simply look around as it is in real life, by moving their head. There are several VR devices on the market at the moment. The footage must be loaded onto the headset first (normally shown as a USB device when connected to your PC). v Below: Screenshots from film to show how devices can guide viewiers to watch and use the 360º videos.

MARKETING

New platform to promote premium Australian products

Australia’s dried grape industry has launched its newest tool to promote the country’s premium product to both domestic and international markets. Dried Fruits Australia, with support from industry stakeholders and Hort Innovation, has launched the new Australian Sultanas website. The Australian Sultanas brand — a collaboration between DFA, Sunbeam Foods and Australian Premium Dried Fruits — promotes the nutritional benefits, taste and quality of Australian dried grapes.

“Consumers want to know the provenance of their food – where their fruit is coming from and how it’s grown. This new website will show them just that.” While some industries promote their products to boost demand, the dried grape industry finds itself in a unique situation. The demand for Australia’s premium products already exceeds supply. Mark said the Australian Sultanas brand and website promotion of the country’s dried grapes complemented the industry body’s focus on attracting new investment in the industry.

The easy-to-use website features a fresh look, recipes, nutritional information, and gives consumers an insight into varieties of fruit and how it’s produced.

“We want to make sure we keep our current customers, stay at the forefront of people’s minds when they think of quality dried grapes, and make sure we have the next generation of consumers enjoying our fruit,” he said.

Dried Fruits Australia Chair Mark King said the new website would give customers a true representation of the Australian dried grape industry.

The site will be updated regularly with new products, recipes and information for consumers as it becomes available.

“It shows us just as we are; clean, green and healthy,” he said.

The development of the purposebuilt website will mean consumers

have a dedicated space to visit to learn more about Australia’s dried grape products, while the Dried Fruits Australia website – driedfruitsaustralia.org.au – will cater more to industry and producer information and representation. The Australian Sultanas website can be viewed here at www. australiansultanas.com.au, while consumers can follow the Australian Sultanas brand on both Facebook and Instagram. v

VINE MAGAZINE 33

PROCESSING & MARKETING

Innovation in winter pruning AU ST RA L I A N P R EM I U M D R I ED F R U I TS

How quickly the pain of winter pruning comes around. Of all the tasks we must conduct to produce dried grapes, there is no doubt that winter pruning is the least enjoyable and most labour-intensive of the lot. Encouragingly, we are seeing some good innovation in this area, with industry and independent growers looking at ways to minimise the manual labour requirement of pruning, which will bring the industry closer to a fully automated process. To be fully mechanised using the industry best practice of swing arm trellis, we need to develop machines for the four main processes of pulling out, pruning, flipping trellis and rolling on. We are seeing some great inventions for pulling out that remove the old cane by stripping them from the wire. These implements are progressing in quality each year, so we encourage growers to ask around the growing network to see if any are suitable for their own setup. Dried Fruits Australia is doing some great work to develop a mechanical pruning system that will use an accurate cane cutter to move along the cordon to prune the vines. This is an exciting project and one that growers can watch via the Currant News sent out fortnightly. We are hopefully not far away from having a reliable prototype that can be replicated for growers to own. Flipping trellis is a difficult process to automate with the existing swing arm design. It might be that future dried grape growers use a different trellis system that doesn’t require flipping to avoid this process.

34 VINE MAGAZINE

The removal and replacement of the trellis pin, in conjunction with the flipping, is a difficult practice to automate with swing arm, but we encourage growers to keep looking at ways to do this. The Australian dried grape practices are the most advanced of any in the world, which is due in part to growers looking to innovate and create equipment that will increase yield and lower the costs of production. APDF love seeing new inventions and hope that in coming seasons we see a fully automated process that makes the Australian industry the envy of all others. Chemical residues are becoming a more sensitive area each year as the world looks to tighten up on active chemicals in many of the common products we use. APDF work closely with industry to put together the spray diary each season, which has just been finalised. Our main export market is Europe, which enables the processors to set the premium price we can offer for 5 and 4 crown light fruit each season. The spray diary is heavily influenced by meeting the EU limits for allowable chemicals for dried grape products.

changes to allowable chemicals, as this area is forever changing and has a big impact on which markets fruit can be sold in. The electronic DFA Spray Diary (which should also have a very good phone app) should be a great tool for growers going forward. Markets are still quite healthy considering the unpredictable global market dominated by Covid-19 issues. Luckily, the Australian industry has good demand for our produced volume, so we are not experiencing any difficulties from the Asian market at this point that we are hearing from other horticulture industries in Sunraysia. As we see further growth of volume in the next two to three years at APDF, we are heavily focussed on building a wide range of markets to ensure a strong future for all the stakeholders. v Enquiries: Grower liaison officer Larry Dichiera, larry@apdf.com.au 0488 199 221

A great development is the industry spray diary moving to online version, which will hopefully make it much easier for growers to access and use going forward. An industry chemical committee that we are represented on will meet regularly to keep the spray diary updated and supply news of any new chemicals being raised for change in future. At present we are hearing that Mancozeb is on the EU radar for being banned, although it is still OK to use for the 2021 spray season. We encourage all growers to start taking more and more notice of

Above: Prototype 2 of La Trobe University’s mechanised pruner in operation.

PROCESSING & MARKETING

All eyes on season 2021/22 S U N B E A M F O O D S & A N G AS PA R K

The 2020/2021 season is behind us and attention turns to the preparation of the vineyards and orchards to set a solid base for the 2021/22 crops. Pruning of all crops is in full swing, while growers reflect on the yields of the previous season and how they can be improved to maximise their returns in the future.

Dried vine fruit There is strong demand from all the marketing channels that Sunbeam has a presence in – export, industrial and retail – and Australian fruit is top of the buyer’s lists. A general shortage of fruit will have a rationing approach applied to most of these markets to maintain the relationships for future increased supply.

Yield Improvement Program – Towards 10t/h

It is a given now that there are more and more restrictions coming in, so it is of the utmost importance that growers follow the Spray Diary protocol to avoid any fruit rejections at the receival point. The setting spray used for currants with the active ingredient chlormequat is under industry review and subject to a research project to determine its effectiveness. Research results to date show that there is no positive effect on the number of berries set with various rates of chlormequat application (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) trialled. While a resolution is still at least 12 months away, a reduction or deletion of use is our present objective.

Prunes As the world is facing a temporary short supply of prunes, the opportunity to clear our carry-over of small-sized prunes will be capitalised on.

The industry benchmark for dried vine fruit is 10 tonnes per hectare (4 tonnes per acre).

The strong enquiries from Asia has resulted in a large quantity of export product directed to these undersupplied markets.

Most growers have this target in mind and, over the next six months, our field officers will be working closely with our growers to facilitate management practices to work towards this benchmark.

These markets would normally be serviced by Chile at low comparative Australian returns but, due to the shortage, the price has improved to a point where the export sales are attractive.

Experience shows us that there are usually only minimal costs and management variations involved to increasing yields, whether this is from improved nutrition programs or water amounts and timing.

Grading of the 2021 crop is progressing to plan and, as forecast, the average size is towards the larger pittable range.

Industry Spray Diary

The chill units achieved in the Riverland are tracking behind the benchmark of 2017 by 15 to 20% (mid-July).

Dried Fruits Australia has prepared the 2021/22 Spray Diary after thoroughly reviewing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for all chemicals.

before full bud burst. Angas Park is currently promoting apricots in the Woolworth’s Fresh Ideas magazine. The advertorial focus is on the Southern Hemisphere style apricot, that has superior flavour and colour to the Mediterranean style that is the cheaper option in the retail market place. v Enquiries: Supply manager dried fruit David Swain | 0407 834 044 Field officer (including SA) Alan Lister | 0409 437 801 Field officer Gary Simpson | 0429 960 234 Dried tree fruit operations manager (Loxton) Luke Fitzsimmons | 0431 894 515

Dried tree fruit

The July—August period will be critical to get the trees to a fruitful position

VINE MAGAZINE 35

PROCESSING & MARKETING

On track for transformation MU RRAY R I V ER O R G A N I C S

Murray River Organics’ recent announcement to sell their Mourquong-based processing facility is a move away from their core roots as a grower and processor, but an impactful step towards a bright future for their growing branded retail range.

national presence in all major retailers across multiple categories.

Australia’s leading organic group, Murray River Organics (MRO), recently announced the sale of their dried vine fruit processing facility to be finalised by the end of the 2020-21 financial year.

“This strategic partnership and consolidation forms part of rationalising our processing cost base as we reduce our own farming footprint and increase our focus on our high value-added and organic food products,” he said.

The sale is in line with MRO’s turnaround strategy to shift away from being a grower and processor and concentrate on building the profile of its organic and Better for You branded retail range. Since its launch 18 months ago, the MRO retail brand has grown from strength to strength, securing a

36 VINE MAGAZINE

The timing is all too perfect with the $2 billion a year organic industry seeing consistent growth and adoption among consumers. The intention to concentrate the company’s efforts on what has been identified as their biggest opportunity for growth was further cemented by MRO’s chief executive officer, Birol Akdogan.

Though their eyes are set on the future of their retail brand, Murray River Organics is still a firm supporter and advocate for dried vine fruit in Australia. Importantly, the processing facility sale included securing a binding 10year processing agreement for MRO’s

own and third party-grown fruit. “We are fortunate to be supported by a number of growers in Mildura, and we commit to building on these partnerships while outsourcing the processing of dried vine fruit,” Birol said. It is expected that Murray River Organics will announce further asset sales during the 2021-22 financial year, as the group narrows its focus on the growth of its retail brands in the fast-moving consumer goods space. This comes as the company confirms it is actively pursuing valueaccretive organic and Better for You opportunities in order to complement its existing brand and accelerate their return to profitability.v If you are interested in hearing more about the sale, or anything else Murray River Organics-related, you are welcome to reach out to Birol Akdogan at bakdogan@ murrayriverorganics.com.au or visit www.murrayriverorganics.com.au.

TECHNOLOGY

All hands on tech I N N OVATI O N I N AG R I C U LTU R E

Whether you subscribe to the latest podcasts, invest in all the gadgets available, or follow precision farming tech trends, or you like to keep things simple, chances are anything that helps reduce the pressure on growers to have a hand on every vine is welcome. Our new feature will help enlighten you on some of the more useful apps, podcasts, gadgets, websites, and all things tech.

APP

PODCAST

WEBSITE

It claims to be the app “farmers have been waiting for”, and reviews for fieldmargin herald it as an easy-to-use tool for farmers in a variety of fields, from livestock to horticulture and everything in between.

AgriFutures On Air features voices from regional, rural and remote Australia, sharing agricultural trends and innovations; latest research outcomes to make an impact on your farming operations and insights into new and emerging rural industries.

Farm Table is a national platform that brings together the Australian Agricultural industry’s knowledge and connects farmers in a way never seen before. Farm Table aims to make “the web a better place for agriculture/farmers/agribusiness”.

Tell me more… - Map your farm in just 30 minutes - Record crops and plan rotations - Add more detail with features like fences, gateways, buildings and water pipes - Share with your team to help them navigate and avoid hazards How does it benefit growers? An easy-to-use app, fieldmargin allows growers to reduce paperwork, digitising information so it’s at their fingertips. Import information from compatible applications, share with multiple farm workers, agronomists or consultants and plan routes to avoid hazards Cost and availability: Free + paid subscriptions for extra features. Available on web, iPhone and Android

Tell me more… With more than 30 episodes about innovation in Australian agriculture, AgriFutures On Air is a weekly podcast releasing episodes on farm safety, the future of Australian agriculture, cyberthreats and traceability, and much more. How does it benefit growers?

Tell me more… Farm Table is an integrated platform which helps to connect growers – to information, and to others within industry. It provides information on agricultural opportunities, grants, farm tech, and cross industry resources, and much more. How does it benefit growers?

Tractor pod-sessions provide a great distraction for growers during the mundanity of production work, and AgriFutures On Air is no exception. Episodes explore all areas of agriculture, as well as aspirational content about leadership and space exploration.

Farm Table is a knowledge bank for growers, collecting and housing information in one place for time-poor growers. Growers can also sign up for a membership, which allows them to receive regular updates, and customise their own farm table, to save resources for later.

Availability:

Cost & availability:

All good podcast networks

Free for farmers, fishers, graziers, primary producers, staff members/partners of a farming business, agricultural students, aspiring or retired farmers.

VINE MAGAZINE 37

PROFILE

Profile Rocky Mammone

Rocky Mammone is one of the youngest members on the Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) board. A third-generation grower, he was appointed deputy chair of the ATGA board last year. Rocky is also a member of the Sunraysia Table Grape Growers Association (STGGA) and is committed to contributing to a sustainable, diverse and high-quality industry for the future. How long have you been in the industry?

How have things changed over the years? The scale and growth of the Australian table grape industry has seen it become the second largest horticulture export commodity by value. The introduction of new IP varieties is also a big change. Where do you see the industry going? The next few years will be tougher than we have seen recently. Labour shortages due to closed international borders might be with us for longer than we hoped. Market diversification will have to be the focus of growers and marketers and will be key to the industry future.

16 years.

The industry must maintain a very high standard of quality if we are to compete in a more crowded global market.

Is the family involved too?

What do you love about the industry?

Yes, family business still run by myself, father Frank and younger brother Vincent.

To see the results of a good crop and quality, from all of the hard work that goes into growing it, is very rewarding.

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Is there anything unique that your business or you individually are looking into, in terms of innovation? We are always looking at new varieties that are better and more cost effective to grow and that excite consumers. v

COMMUNITY

Notice board About 40 growers from a range of industries came together in May for the Tackling Weeds Together field day. The day was hosted by Dried Fruits Australia, and included dried, table and wine grape growers, as well as citrus and almond growers, for a discussion around weed management. Attendees heard from professor of weed management Chris Preston, from University of Adelaide, Rick Lewellyn from CSIRO, and Michael Moodie from Frontier Farming Systems. The day included a discussion on selecting herbicides, resistance, spray application, costs and results of herbicide trials in a Sunraysia vineyard. The day was part of Mallee Sustainable Farming’s Area Wide Weed Management project.

Mark King (Chair) Producer, Pomona

Ashley Johnstone Producer, Irymple

Warren Lloyd (Deputy Chair)

David Swain Sunbeam Foods

Producer, Irymple

Grant Leyden Sunbeam Foods

Jenny Treeby Producer, Red Cliffs

Craig Greenwood

Stephen Bennett Producer, Merbein

BOARD

Tony Martin Producer, Merbein Luke Lory Producer, Loxton

Australian Premium Dried Fruits

Michael Scalzo Australian Premium Dried Fruits

Jeremey Boyd (Chair), Victoria

Adrian Cordoma Victoria

Rocky Mammone (Deputy Chair), Victoria

Joe Garreffa New South Wales

Nick Muraca Victoria

Peter Nuich Western Australia

David Agg South Australia

Mark Leng Queensland

Dominic Sergi Victoria

Disclaimer: Dried Fruits Australia, the Australian Table Grape Association and Hort Innovation acknowledge contributions made by private enterprise through placement of advertisements in this publication. Acceptance of these contributions does not endorse or imply endorsement of any product or service advertised by contributors and we expressly disclaim all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of information in the Vine. Reliance on any information provided in the Vine is entirely at your own risk. Dried Fruits Australia, the Australian Table Grape Association and Hort Innovation are not responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any person’s negligence or otherwise, or from reliance on information contained in the Vine, or your use or non-use of the material. Copyright © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2021. Copyright subsists in the Vine. Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Hort Innovation) owns the copyright, other than as permitted under the Copyright ACT 1968 (Cth). The Vine (in part or as a whole) cannot be reproduced, published, communicated or adapted without the prior written consent of Hort Innovation and both ATGA and DFA.

VINE MAGAZINE 39

GREEN

BLUE

SLOW

Your grapes deserve the best Using fresh science to protect fresh produce

Vine magazine August 2021

Articles inside

Profile Rocky Mammone

Technology Innovation in agriculture

Processing & marketing MRO

Processing & marketing Sunbeam Foods

Processing & marketing APDF

Marketing New Australian Sultanas website

Marketing ATGA's own spin on 360°

Biosecurity Spotted lanternfly

Biosecurity Mass trapping female fruit flies

News Sustainability stories

News Looking back on industry project

Dried grape news

Cover story Champions in the field

Feature Women in horticulture

News Rich history in the spotlight

Table grape news

DFA chair & CEO news

Prune news Growers head to Young for new ideas

News Labour of love