INDUSTRY NEWS
Reflecting on an industry-building career
After 37 years living in Loxton, SARDI Research Scientist Mark Skewes has moved interstate to take on the Principal Research and Extension Officer position at FarmLink, a farming systems group in southern New South Wales. Mark has witnessed the development of the Almond Centre of Excellence and played a key role in SARDI trial work on the property. Kellie Hollingworth caught up with Mark in his final weeks at the Loxton Research Centre.
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Q. What is your proudest achievement as a researcher in the almond industry?
A. The Almond Irrigation Best Practice Management project in 2018-2020 was one of my favourite projects for the industry, especially the creation of the Drip Irrigation Evaluation Tool which allows growers to self-assess their irrigation system performance. I spent some time during my early years in Loxton working with the Irrigated Crop Management Service specifically in the area of irrigation system performance and maintenance, and this project allowed me to apply some of that knowledge to the almond industry in a new way.
Q. How much has horticulture research changed in the time that you’ ve been based in Loxton and working for SARDI / South Australian Department of Agriculture?
A. The basics of research remain much the same as they always were, but the tools we have available for research have changed dramatically in my time in Loxton. Everything was done manually in the old days, whereas today we have access to all sorts of measurement and monitoring tools, with new options becoming available all the time. However, more data doesn’ t necessarily lead to better research results, it is still vital to focus in on what the most important data is to collect, and the correct interpretation of the results that support recommendations to growers.
In A Nutshell- Winter 2025 Vol 26 Issue 2
Over his 37 years in Loxton, SARDI Research Scientist Mark Skewes has seen plenty of research developments in the almond industry.
Q. You’ ve conducted trials on properties in the Riverland and interstate for a variety of horticulture crops. How valuable are facilities like the ACE Orchard for this kind of work?
A. The Almond Centre of Excellence is a wonderful facility for the Almond industry, and many other industries are looking over the fence wishing they had something similar. The ACE allows the industry to conduct risky research without that risk falling on one or two growers who are brave enough host those trials, and to take a whole of industry perspective when planning research trials. It also provides a great focus for communicating research results to industry.
Q. Australian almond growing practices are largely modelled on California, how important is it to have local research?
A. It is great to have information from as many sources as possible and to learn from the experiences of others elsewhere in the world. The linkages that the ABA have built with the Almond Board of California, and more recently with Spain, are invaluable in accessing the latest information and planting materials. However, conditions in the Australian almond growing regions are unique and any research findings from elsewhere must be verified locally, otherwise there is the potential for things to go horribly wrong.
Q. Do you have any final advice or thoughts for almond growers and the wider industry?
A. I would encourage primary industries to continue to strongly support research, as conditions for growers are continuing to tighten, financially and legislatively. Good, targeted research is a key factor in maintaining growers’ productivity and profitability, and even the basic right to farm. Also, the almond industry is a very collegial industry compared to some I have dealt with. I encourage the industry to maintain that cooperative spirit and continue to share information freely, for the good of the whole industry. Some other industries could do well to model themselves on the almond industry.