President ' s Report generally OK . I have found that using reflective mulch puts a bit more sunlight onto the fruit , which helps increase brix to acceptable levels . Could be a useful strategy for others perhaps .
Promotion
There was quite a lot of discussion at the AGM about promotion at the start of the season . We need to find ways to let consumers know that local fruit is now available , fresh and in season . There was even discussion of a voluntary levy for low chill producers to promote early fruit . Of course , there ’ s no use promoting , unless quality is good . However , I think there is a real opportunity for promoting more seasonal eating to consumers .
Life after fenthion
The other good news was that the loss of Lebaycid ( fenthion ) has not been the disaster that some expected . The combination of bait sprays , male annihilation technique ( MAT ) and hygiene is proving effective at controlling fruit fly in orchards .
My orchards are netted , and this season I added white side-walls . As well as hail , these protect the fruit from flying
The retailers stopped selling imported stonefruit as our season commenced , leaving us a real window into the market . foxes and birds . However , the nets are also proving a really useful tool against fruit fly . Although not made from fly-proof netting , they seem to reduce the number of flies entering the orchard – perhaps because they act as a visual barrier , and white is known to be somewhat repellent to flies anyway .
Applying bait is time consuming , but also seems to be really working . I try to apply every five days instead of the recommended seven , just in case something happens and I can ’ t spray when it ’ s due . I also apply every second row , so female flies never have to travel far to find bait .
There were a number of low chill growers who left the industry after the loss of Lebaycid . They felt that without Dimethoate and Lebaycid it would just not be possible to grow stonefruit . Certainly it would be useful to have these chemicals available when we need them .
However , the systems approach , using all of the tools we have available , is so far proving an effective replacement . Let ’ s hope it continues to do so .
– Rod Dalton summerfruit . com . au December 2016 | Australian Stonefruit Grower 11