growers as this situation continues to unfold . The timing of the varroa incursion could not have been worse . It has added a lot of anxiety and doubt to what was already looming as another challenging season ahead for our industry . Ever increasing input costs , low global pricing , high freight costs and logistics congestion have all eroded the profitability of the industry in the past 12 months .
Making news ...
Wet weather continues
The wet weather has resulted in a range of on-farm dry solutions being tested . Noted almond scientist Michael Coats has been experimenting on a number of properties and we plan to run a webinar to provide the latest results from his work . Growers should be aware that the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting above average rainfall for the next three months .
Back in the field
In the first half of the year , the team at the ABA have enjoyed the opportunity to get back into the field and work with industry on a range of areas . A range of issues have been the focus of field days and demonstrations . The new autonomous tractor technology and the irrigation training modules have been keenly supported . ( You can read more on the latest in new and autonomous technology in this edition .) We ’ re looking forward to bringing more opportunities for growth , development and knowledge-sharing to industry over coming months .
Australian Almond Conference returns
The first Australian Almond Conference since 2018 has been scheduled for October 10-12 in Adelaide . The aim is to provide access to some of the brightest minds in almonds from around the world . Two of the world ’ s leading almond agronomists , David Doll and Patrick Brown , will fly in to be guest speakers and have been charged with providing potential strategies around doing more with less as orchards struggling with rising input costs . A new feature will be “ Speakers ’ Corner ” where industry members can book one-onone chats with the experts to discuss their own on-farm challenges . New innovations in managing bees and pollination , an ag-tech showcase , the latest on chemicals – what is in and what could be out - and the latest in the market will all be couched within information packed program . There will also be a Spouses Tour to the world-famous Jurlique cosmetic farm and historic Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills .
Tech trial to combat varroa
LONG-TIME Victorian beekeepers Max and Ian Crane with beekeeping technologist Joel Kuperholz during the installation of a trial of new technology that photographs every bee that enters a hive and can identify varroa mite . Joel ’ s team have also invented an affordable sensor that can be easily fitted to every hive to monitor hive conditions from your phone . There is a wide range of exciting technology innovation that could help beekeepers and almond growers evaluate hive health before and during pollination season . Joel and the Crane brothers are conducting a trial on a Select Harvest orchard near Robinvale this month .
Fish screens in orchard trial
THE ABA has been working with the SA Department of Environment and Water to establish a pilot project around the use of new fish screen technology at our Experimental Orchard . The revolutionary self-cleaning screens were explained to almost 50 growers at a recent ag-tech field day . For more information , contact our Industry Development team .
industry . australianalmonds . com . au
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