INDUSTRY NEWS
International speakers confirmed for Australian Almond Conference
INTERNATIONAL guests are one of the drawcards at the Australian Almond Conference , and this year will be no different . The three speakers are experts in their fields and will discuss issues that are important for growers in Australia . Around 40 % of Australia ’ s almond orchards are at least 20 years old and replanting is top of mind for most growers , but what varieties are best ? Roger Duncan from the University of California Cooperative Extension , Stanislaus County will be speaking about the rootstocks and varieties that are meeting the needs of Californian ’ s and the results from the field evaluations , which include Australian varieties . While yields are an important factor , Mr Duncan said there are other things to consider too , including disease and insect susceptibility , bloom and harvest date , marketability , also personal preference .
Australian growers are also under pressure to remain profitable , which is why Professor Jim Adaskaveg , a plant pathologist from the University of California has been invited to the conference to discuss optimising inputs , with a particular focus on control options for almond pests and diseases . Professor Adaskaveg said he ’ s looking forward to returning to Australia to share some of his research . A lot of the almond growing practices used in Australia were developed in California , where 75 to 80 % of the world ’ s almonds are produced . While Australia might be the second largest almond grower , Spain is hot on our heels and some of the techniques they are using are quite different to our approaches . Xavier Miarnau from the Institute of Agrifood , Research and Technology ( ITRA ) will shine a light on almond growing in Spain .
Over the last 10 years there has been rapid expansion with the total area planted to almonds across the Iberian Peninsula ( Portugal and Spain ) reaching 792,000ha which now exceeds the almond production area in Californian being 650,000ha ( 2022 ). Iberian producers have transformed production by embracing self-compatible varieties , irrigation , and super high density growing systems which has enabled economically sustainable production despite relatively low yields . With a similar growing climate and limitations on water availability , late frosts together with pest and disease pressures from spring rains , there is much to learn from our Spanish counterparts . Tickets for the conference are on sale now . Trade stalls and sponsorship packages are still available . For information about the conference click here .
industry . australianalmonds . com . au
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