chris searle - grower success story - geoff chivers

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