An interactive morning of discussion with the PIPS3 Program research leaders- Nutrition, Irrigation, Soil Health, AgTech & Climate Challenges!
Discuss your local orchard systems and practices with the PIPS3 Program research leaders !
The Soil Health demonstration site for the past three years, established at Ladycroft Orchard will also be a topic of discussion. Trials have been conducted to test the effects of varying floor managements on soil health, tree health, IPDM and fruit quality, as well as impacts upon typical orchard managements. Dr. Nigel Swarts of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, supported by Susie Murphy-White, will lead a discussion on cover cropping, treeline management and deciduous fruit tree nutrition.
Dr. Ian Goodwin from Agriculture Victoria's Tatura SmartFarm, and APAL's 2022 Researcher of the Year, will chat in the orchard about climate challenges faced by growers and the ways in which PIPS3 Program research has tested sensing technologies that have real potential to assist growers in their decisions and timing of key management practices in the orchard, especially in relation to crop load and harvest. Ian has led both the Apple Systems (AP19003) and Pear Systems (AP19005) projects for the PIPS3 Program.
Peter Clifton from South West Catchment Council will be speaking about building resilience to a varroa mite incursion. Through revegetating with species that attract alternative pollinators (a long-term response) and using inter-row cover crops as a short term approach and combining this with IPM to ensure pests are discouraged, secondary pests are not flared, and beneficials are favoured. Obviously, this management can also have co-benefits for biodiversity and soil health.
Learn more about the outcomes of the PIPS Program and what they may mean to your region & business!
§ Introduction to the use, WA trial of SWAN System’s Apple nutrition and irrigation strategy and forecasting tool!
§ Latest developments in orchard systems
§ Addressing climate challenges
§ Crop load effects on fruit quality & biennial bearing
§ Options for orchard floor management
§ Improving soil health
§ Optimising nutrients & irrigation decision support
§ Sensing technology to inform crop load & harvest decisions.
§ Inter row cover crops to attract alternate pollinators!