BMP
CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT
The ABA’ s Best Management Practice( BMP) involves supplying a range of tools from strategic planning and analysis of data to monitor and review performance. They service as a roadmap for a company( big and small) on how to do business and provide the best way to deal with problems and issues that arise. BMPs have a key role to play in boosting productivity, strengthening environmental sustainability, and reducing risks, critical factors for the long-term viability of the Australian almond industry. Recognized as a key priority by the Almond Board of Australia( ABA), BMPs support growers by helping them improve farm resilience, increase productivity and profitability, and enhance on-farm sustainability. Implementing BMPs ensures that the industry remains competitive, responsible, and resilient in the face of future challenges.
To support almond growers in implementing best practice on farm, the ABA developed Almond Hort360, an online BMP portal, which allows almond growers to assess their operations across a range of areas and benchmark themselves against others in the industry. Almond Hort360 is an almond industry-specific adaption of Growcom’ s Hort360 and has been developed by the ABA in consultation with key industry stakeholders. The platform is made up of a series of self-assessment modules on different topics which are designed to give growers a 360-degree view of their farming operations providing a roadmap to best practice.
All Almond Hort360 modules are based on industry BMPs and are peer reviewed by growers and other industry experts. Each module includes question on multiple farm management areas. The questions
are multiple choice and designed to make it easy for growers to describe what they do on farm. Modules have been developed based on industry priorities with eight modules currently available.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a national priority in Australia and is important for safeguarding industries, communities, and the environment from the threat of new and exotic insect pest, disease or weed incursions. Preventing pest incursions contributes to the long-term sustainability, marketability and profitability of the Australian almond industry. There are things growers can do on-farm to reduce biosecurity threats.
Farm management areas:
• Planning and monitoring
• Staff training
• On-farm biosecurity
Energy and Emissions
Energy is the driving force for almond operations. It is used to pump water, keep vehicles and machinery moving, service farm buildings, power tools and equipment. Increasing the energy efficiency of farm operations can help reduce costs, prevent interruptions to energy supply, optimise productivity, increase resilience in a changing climate, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Farm management areas:
• Optimising energy efficiency
• Irrigation energy efficiency
• Tractor energy efficiency
• Fuel storage
• Farm building energy efficiency
• Greenhouse gas emissions
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