February 2012 - No 3 - Cherry Growers Australia

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CGA-HAL Projects for 2011-2012 CY11011 — Cherry Industry Five Year Strategic Investment Plan Development of the Cherry Industry Strategic Investment Plan for the next 5 years. Once completed the Plan will be able to be used by the IAC Committees as a guide for the investment of industry levies into the future. Communications & extension strategy completed in September 2011. Marketing strategy to be completed by end of March 2012. R&D strategy to be completed by May 2012. Export roadmap to be completed by May 2012 with full plan to be approved by CGA Board and HAL by 30 June 2012. CY11014 — Biosecurity Preparedness for the Australian Cherry Industry This project gives Cherry Growers Australia Inc and State Industry bodies the required resources and capacity to build on and expand activities in the area of biosecurity preparedness. This work will ensure the Cherry industry is well equipped for biosecurity issues that may arise in the pursuit and maintenance of export market access. Organised visit from Taiwan to look at onshore treatment. Also organised visit from AQSIQ & CIQA from China 4-12 December 2011. Thailand trip cancelled. CY11017 — Developing & Maintaining Market Access for Australian Cherries This project will allow Cherry Growers Australia to participate in relevant meetings and negotiations in relation to achieving market access for new markets and maintenance of current market destinations. Appropriate industry visits to overseas market destinations and industry representations at international Trade Fairs will be possible through this project. Still to finalise protocol for access into China in next few months, plus work on Thailand access. CY11018 — Developing Communications, Engagement & Capacity across the Australian Cherry Industry Cherry Growers Australia needs to provide ongoing communications and engagement with all Australian Cherry growers to details the issues, projects and programmes and to ensure that growers are at the “leading edge” of technology and information. 2nd edition of Newsletter developed and sent out in December. New consumer website launched www.australiancherries.com.au Reviewing industry website www.cherrygrowers.org.au for new look and operation by end of March 2012. Quality Guide Posters $10 each plus postage Purchase 6 for $50 ! Email your order to CGA Office office@cherrygrowers.org
LATEST CHERRY RESEARCH Managing nutrients and water in cherry production systems Dr Denise Nielsen of Pacific Agrifood Research Centre in British Colombia, Canada, visited Tasmania in November 2011 to discuss the exciting research TIA is doing and to meet with our innovative cherry growers. While Denise was here she gave a very in-depth presentation to local growers on nutrient management using fertigation. Much of her research is done in the Okanagan region of British Colombia solving the problems associated with irrigating fruit trees in coarse mineral soils with low organic matter (and low water-holding capacity) with limited rainfall (season deficit of 400 to 800mm). Some of her information is presented here, with emphasis on her experience of commercial cherry nutrition in the British Colombian environment. Nutrient and water management are linked. Retention of nutrients in the root zone for as long as possible will improve nutrient use by the tree and reduce wastage, leading to better fertiliser efficiency, environmental sustainability and reduced fertilizer costs. The 2 practices that keep nutrients in the root zone for longer are: � nutrient applications that are timed and sufficient to meet tree demand � water applications that are scheduled to meet evaporative demand Did you know?... Fruit trees have very small root systems for their total plant size, compared to grasses, bushes and trees generally. Grasses can have 10 to 100m of roots for every square cm of soil surface they cover. In comparison tree fruits have 1 to 10cm of root per square cm of soil surface. Precise targeting of water and nutrients is important to avoid wastage of inputs. Because root distribution in fruit trees is influenced by water and nutrient placement, targeting nutrients to roots is easier with micro-irrigation. For example under drip irrigation, feeder roots predominantly spread within 15cm out from the dripper, and mostly less than 45cm deep. Root distribution is more widespread under microjet irrigation, where substantial volume of feeder roots can be measured down to 90cm depth, and also out to 75cm in sandy soil of British Columbia. Water and nutrient management Water scheduling is essential. A range of devices such as G-dots and tensiometers are used in British Colombia. Crop coefficient curves are used as well as a model based on canopy development with input from weather records and evapotranspiration measurements to determine ‘climate days’. Scheduling irrigation events to meet the trees’ needs require conservative well-engineered irrigation systems that can meet maximum demand, and are well structured into zones that allows everything to be watered on time . Reducing surface evaporation also has an impact. Covering the ground with shredded paper is one example of cooling the soil surface in orchards to reduce water loss from evaporation. Why use fertigation? When there is little water from soil stores (coarse sandy loam) or from climate (semi-arid) water management controls nutrient management. Compact root systems and micro-irrigation offer good opportunities for con-
Page 1 and 2: February 2012 - No 3
Page 3 and 4: Andrew Smith—President CGA W ith
Page 5 and 6: CGA Chief Executive Officer � Tai
Page 7 and 8: Cherry orchard biosecurity workshop
Page 9 and 10: A producer who sells cherries by re
Page 11 and 12: 2011-12 Export Report
Page 13: 2011-12 Export Report
Page 17 and 18: into fruit is mainly after cell div
Page 19 and 20: Continuous Improvement for Horticul
Page 21 and 22: EXPORT Culture Thailand Country Fac
Page 23 and 24: According to Thailand Customs and T
Page 25 and 26: STATE REPORTS The NSW season has be
Page 27 and 28: STATE REPORTS The Tasmanian cherry

February 2012 - No 3 - Cherry Growers Australia

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