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

2014 AMS 40th Anniversary Industry Conference proudly presented by

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


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


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


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


Component 3 - Nutrition

Fully automated system


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


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


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


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


Component 7 - Harvesting and drying

Matched systemRate of harvesting equals rate of drying front

Harvests at least every 3 weeks

Hasn’t over capitalised



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



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


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


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


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

chris searle - grower success story - geoff chivers

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