INDUSTRY NEWS
Riverina industry keeps growing
THE Riverina is the second largest almond growing region in Australia and even more plantings are expected in the coming years . Senior horticulturalist and nut specialist at Yenda Producers Co-operative Peter Reynolds said another 1,000 hectares is likely in the coming year and it ’ s possible this will be replicated the year later . He said water security is the big reason for the exponential growth of plantings in the past five years . “ People don ’ t want to be below the Barmah Choke ( a narrow section of the Murray River that limits the amount of water that can be delivered to downstream irrigators during peak periods ),” he said . While water is essential for growing almonds , Mr Reynolds said there are other factors that need to be considered when developing orchards in the region including soil type , drainage , frost susceptibility and channel capacity . “ It ’ s critical that growers in the Riverina pick rootstock that suits their soil and phytophthora tolerance is also critical ,” he said . While Monterey is the third most popular almond variety grown in Australia , Mr Reynolds said it isn ’ t ideally suited to the Riverina , because it is harvested so late . Mr Reynolds said he also knows a number of new growers who have planted almond orchards but don ’ t have contracts with processors . “ Processing capacity is an issue and there doesn ’ t appear to be any solutions coming in the near future ,” he said . Mr Reynolds said almond production costs are higher in the Riverina because the region is different to the other major growing areas in Australia . “ The Riverina typically gets double the rainfall of Sunraysia during late summer , so at harvest time more people and more machinery are needed to get the crop off ,” he said . Yenda Producers Co-operative , which turns 100 next year , focuses on maximising profits for its shareholders , who are growers . Mr Reynolds has worked in the horticulture sector for 40 years , initially growing vegetable seeds for Yates before moving to support vegetable , grape , citrus , stone fruit and almond growers in 1992 . These days he specialises in almonds and other nut crops . His main jobs include inspecting orchards for pests and disease , advising on crop nutrition and crop health . Mr Reynolds said growers who aim for high yielding almond crops in the Riverina need to constantly fine tune their orchard management throughout the season . Using a set management formula every year generally produces poorer yields or quality under these conditions . Riverina almond growers usually spray their orchards 11
Yenda Producers Co-operative senior horticulturalist Peter Reynolds says the almond industry in the Riverina continues to grow , and has its own unique challenges .
to 14 times a year because the wetter climate creates higher disease and pest pressures . Pest pressure is increasing for both carob moth and carpophilus beetle , with up to 30 % detection of these pests in some field samples and damage of between three and six per cent in the final processed kernel sample . Mr Reynolds said many growers are setting up their orchards with wider spacings between 5.9m and 6.2m . This allows the trees to grow big and alleviates disease pressure by allowing more sunlight into the orchard . The Riverina is also home to three major irrigation supply companies and Mr Reynolds said the staff are highly skilled . This has resulted in innovative irrigation designs and installations such as using an A , B and C sub-mains to water each variety separately and some orchards utilising low flow single shift systems , where the whole property is irrigated at once over a longer period of time . Mr Reynolds said while the pump is running at a constant capacity it ’ s saving power . “ It ’ s critical that orchards have the correct land formation and soil type for this to work ,” he said . You ’ ll find moisture monitoring equipment in almost all the Riverina orchards , but Mr Reynolds said it ’ s important to constantly dig holes throughout the orchard to make sure the data is compared to the actual “ hands-on ” soil moisture .
industry . australianalmonds . com . au
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