chris searle - grower success story - geoff chivers
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2014 Australian Macadamia Society 40th Anniversary Industry ConferenceTRANSCRIPT
Pest and Disease Management
Prepared by: Name…Chris Searle.
Title….Grower Liaison Suncoast Gold
Date….
Grower success storyGeoff Chivers
The Geoff ChiversStory
Building an integratedmanagement system
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Why Geoff Chivers? Manages 43ha - 14,000 tree orchard by himself – shed labour
Averaged over 1.2 t/kernel/ha over last 4 years – up 1.6 t/k/ha
Ranked number 8 in benchmarking for tons/kernel/ha last year
and number 3 for quality – bad year for tonnage
Estimates cost of production around $1.00 per kilo NIS
Nominated every year for State of Origin awards
Either won or been in top three for quality at Suncoast Gold
Chairman of Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (>$400 m)
Married to Narelle and they have two talented sons
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Background
Moved from Melbourne to Bundaberg 1985 to grow stone fruit
Planted first macs in 1989 – mix 344/660/741 – 50% of farm
All on sprinklers at start
Second planting 1992/93 A16 (30%) and A4 (20%) of farm
Orchard mainly on 8x 4 but two blocks 7x 4
Moved whole farm to drip irrigation in 1992 – first to do so
Soils are primarily yellow and red podzolics - limiting growth
Flat farm
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Components of Geoff’s success
Balanced system – all components are intermeshed - can’t
remove/alter one element without having impact on all others
Component One – an open and receptive mind
“Fortune favours the prepared mind”
Good solid farming background - knows the importance of
doing things right and on time - working hard for success
Open to new ideas – values research, other ideas and opinions
Early adopter of ideas and techniques - not overcapitalised
Key message – open mind, seeks expert advice and timeliness
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Component 2 – varietal mix
Time management – one man 14,000 trees – 43 ha
Mix of varieties- 50% of farm is 344/741/660 – early/mid
season droppers, 20% A4 mid dropper,30% A16 mid/late
Longer work season but greater capacity to manage more trees
Spreads pest and disease spraying windows- do job properly –
as has time to treat each group as individuals
Spreads harvest window – only harvesting one third of farm
Matches daily harvest intake with drying front – maximising
quality
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Component 3 - Nutrition
Fully automated system
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Component 3 - Nutrition
Four leaf and soil tests per year – since 1999 - long history
Seeks professional advice – constantly changing nutrient input
Mainly fertigation- little and often suits poor low retention soils
Fertigates every weekend – cheap power
Maximises uptake/nut production without stimulating growth
Applies approx 120 kg N, 180kg K, 5kg B and 250-500kg/ha/yr
micro-fine gypsum through drip – quality
Recently moved to dunder – cheap K and C - 12,500 litres week
KEY Message – testing and professional tailored advice
Component 4 - Irrigation• Two 8 L/hr drippers/tree• 2.5-3 ML/ha/yr very efficient• Minimal maintenance (cost)
• Uses monitoring equipment• Minimises –drainage• Minimises loss low skirts/mulch
• Power bill < house bill• Fertigates at weekend -off peak• Bought farms to get water• Irrigator of year in 2000
Key Message - Scheduling• Importance of water
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Component 5 - Canopy and orchard floor
Low skirts min water loss cool rootsretains mulch
Canopy height max - 6mApprox 90% row widthGood light distributionLow productive canopy Hedged and limb removal
Carpet Grass inter-row
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Building block 5 - Canopy and orchard floor• Low skirts • Retain mulch/organic matter –imp water and nutrient retention
• Puts up mulch from inter-row after harvest using combinator• Mulches in-situ under tree
• Cool environment, good biology• Keeps nuts dry during harvest
Key messages•Manages canopy height•Manages orchard floor
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Component 6 - Pest and disease control
Real copy will go here
• Monitored weekly - experienced external person
• 2-3 sprays for husk spot – starts match head• Banana caterpillar – blow out mulch/ mulch /put back with combinator• Average only half the farm sprayed for spotting bug. Uses perimeter spraying• One full Bulldock for nut borer Christmas another mid to late Jan
• Excellent coverage – uses air-shear • Tower reaches to top of trees
Key Messages Monitoring and excellent coverage
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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
Matched systemRate of harvesting equals rate of drying front
Harvests at least every 3 weeks
Hasn’t over capitalised
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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
Uses old John Deere with modified nut nabber
Changed to mid sized wheels and Admac dehusker – mid sized
wheels allow head to pass under low skirts
Harvests around 3 tons per day – when dry
Waits for nuts to dry in field following rain
Gets round within 3 weeks during peak of season
Nuts stay relatively dry - canopy structure/ drip irrigation
nuts don’t get hot and cold – slow in-field drying
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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
Basic shed equipment. Two open topped 20 ton silos - no back pressure
• 50cm nuts/day• Very large shed –supplies warm air
Key messages• Warm air• Rate of harvesting approx equal speed of drying front • Excellent drying
Primary sort on way in
Quick secondary sort on way out
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Sorting innovations
Shed labour used to cost around $12,00 year
Now all done by Geoff and son
Roller table with shadowless LED light
Stands at end of table Long time to see defect nutHead/eye movement movements left to right – more natural
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Intermeshing and balanced system
Change rate of harvesting from three to six tonnes/day
Require larger wheels, lift skirts, more water loss, more water
power/required, less canopy, allow trees to grow taller to
compensate, poorer coverage, more insect damage, nut intake
faster than dying front, not enough warm air in shed, poss
decline in quality - result poss income loss and higher costs
When making adjustments in your operation ensure there not
an exercise in bottleneck shifting and don’t create additional
problems
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Summary
One man running 40 ha (14,000 trees) orchard – however
inputs from multiple people
Monitored – soil and leaf analyses, water, pests and diseases
Allows for and seeks professional input and discussion
Understands how production elements are related
Manages all components equally – balanced system
Spends money where necessary but doesn't over capitalise
Not afraid of new ideas
Very profitable farming operation - around $1.00 kg costs