Progress from two avocado supply chain improvement projects will be presented to avocado growers, packers and supply chain stakeholders in Atherton on Wednesday 3 May 2017, 7pm-8:30pm.
Dr Jenny Ekman and Adam Goldwater from Applied Horticultural Research (AHR)will discuss the latest in international avocado postharvest research and what it means for your business.
Insights on consumer behaviour at retail and proposed improvements to avocado merchandising will also be presented. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
The project team would like your input on what should happen next, so please come along to:
Atherton International Club
60 Kennedy Highway, Atherton
3rd May 2017, 7:00pm – 8:30pm.

Supply chain improvement projects AV15010 and AV15011 aim to reduce rots and internal defects at retail by increasing best practice adoption in the cool chain and at retail. The projects are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the Avocado Industry Levy and funds from the Australian Government.
For more information, please contact Adam Goldwater at adam.goldwater@ahr.com.au or on 0466 080 693.

Invitation – Central Qld Avocado Grower Study Group Workshop Thursday 16 November

Avocado growers and those associated with the industry are invited to a workshop in Central Queensland as part of the study group series to be held on Thursday 16 November.

The event starts at 10am at Simpson Farms, 1721 Goodwood Road Childers, before moving onto David de Paoli’s property at 293 Knockroe Road in the afternoon.

The day includes an update from Avocados Australia Central Queensland Director John Walsh, a phytophthora and other diseases update from Dr Liz Dann, the use of remote sensing in avocados with Associate Professor Andrew Robson, and two farm walks focussing on canopy management systems.

• Click here to download the full agenda (including directions).

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by Monday 13 November with names and numbers attending to Simon Newett at simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or send a text with name and numbers attending to 0400 56 57 84 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have special dietary requirements. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

INVITATION
South Queensland Study Group Workshop
Thursday 7 December – Blackbutt

Avocado growers and those associated with the industry are invited to a workshop in South Queensland as part of the study group series to be held on Thursday 7 December.

The event starts at 10am at the Clark family’s Green Nugget orchards at 25 Corcoran Road, Blackbutt, before moving onto the Beutel family’s Googa Farms next door at 556 Crows Nest Road in the afternoon.

The day includes an update from Avocados Australia South Queensland Director Daryl Boardman, a presentation on different types of irrigation, results from the second year of the Small Tree High Productivity Initiative project, information from the recent nutrition practices survey and two farm walks (Green Nugget and Googa Farms) focussing on canopy management systems.

• Click here for the full agenda, including detailed directions to the venues.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by Monday 4 December with names and numbers attending to Simon Newett at simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or send a text with name and numbers attending to 0400 56 57 84 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have special dietary requirements. We look forward to seeing you there!

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Invitation
Central NSW Avocado Grower Study Group Workshop Thursday 2 November

Avocado growers, consultants, agronomists and re-sellers are invited to the next Central NSW avocado study group workshop to be held at Stuarts Point on Thursday 2 November.

Click here for the full agenda, including details on the venue address.

Please note the event will start at 9am (earlier than in the past) at the Stuarts Point Community Hall and includes presentations on:

• remote sensing in avocados, by Associate Professor Andrew Robson from the University of New England
• rootstocks, disease management and silicon research, by Dr Liz Dann from the University of Queensland
• an update on the avocado industry in New Zealand, including their R&D program, by Dr Marisa Till and Phillip West, of the NZ Avocado Growers’ Association
• an avocado industry update, by Avocados Australia Central NSW Director Ian Tolson
• an update on the Small Tree High Productivity Initiative, by Queensland DAF’s Peter Rigden.

There will also be a field walk of local orchards led by Roger Cottrell and Malcolm Heather.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by Monday 30 October with numbers and names attending to simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.auor text 0400 565 784 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have special dietary requirements.

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Invitation – North Qld Avocado Study Group Workshop Thursday 12 October

Avocado growers and those associated with the industry are invited to a workshop in North Queensland as part of the study group series to be held on Thursday 12 October at Jim Kochi’s orchard near Atherton.

An interesting programme has been arranged, including Dr Liz Dann (UQ) with an update on disease control, Brad Howlett (NZ Plant & Food Research) on managing pollination, organic practices with Denis Roe (Subtropical Fruit Farm Advisory Services), an update on the Small Tree High Productivity Initiative and more. Directions and full details are available in the agenda.

When: Thursday 12 October
Where: 254 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Atherton
Time: 9am-3pm
Agenda: Click here for the full agenda

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by Monday 9 October with numbers attending to Geoff Dickinson at geoff.dickinson@daf.qld.gov.au or send a text with names and numbers attending to 0407 177 237 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have special dietary requirements.

We look forward to seeing you there!

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Sent on behalf of Simon Newett, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Invitation – Tristate Avocado Grower Study Group Workshops

Avocado growers and those associated with the industry are invited to attend one of two workshops in the Tristate region as part of the study group series. (Each workshop will have a similar programme.)

• Wednesday 26 July – South Australia
  10am start at the Costa Exchange Training Room, 260 Chowilla St, Renmark then later at Nick Hobbs’ Chinoola orchard, Chino St, Renmark.
  Click here for the South Australian agenda
• Thursday 27 July – Victoria
  10am start at Glenn Goldup’s orchard, Lot 7, Sculthorpe Rd, Nangiloc, Victoria.
  Click here for the Victoria agenda

One of the key topics will be dealing with temperature extremes in avocado orchards, viz. frost and heat waves. Our guest speaker on this subject will be consultant Lisa Martin from Ripe Horticulture. Dr Harley Smith from CSIRO in Adelaide will be also be attending and talking about the new project on irregular bearing: “Maximising yield and reducing seasonal variation”.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by 9am Monday 24 July with names attending to simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or send a text with names attending to 0400 565 784 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have special dietary requirements.

 

Invitation – North Queensland Avocado Study Group Workshop 13 July 2017

All avocado growers are invited to an avocado study group workshop in North Queensland in July.

Come and experience the most westerly located avocado orchard in Eastern Queensland, which also happens to be the largest established Maluma variety orchard in Australia. With an interesting program covering the recently released spotting bug lures, double row plantings, trellis trials, new research areas and much more. Enjoy a multicultural barbecue for lunch and cold refreshments while appreciating the diversity of innovations on the two properties of DBC Farming.

The full agenda (including directions) is available here.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for logistical and catering purposes please RSVP by 9am Tuesday 11 July stating all names attending to kaila.ridgway@daf.qld.gov.au or via text or message on 0417 335 271. Also please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Sent on behalf of Simon Newett, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

 

 

INVITATION – RSVP by tomorrow!

Western Australia Avocado Study Group Workshop & Bus Tour

Growers are invited to two avocado study group events in Western Australia.

• 20 June 2017 – Study Group, South West region
  9:30am sharp, Tuesday. Conventional study group workshop at Lisa Roche’s  orchard, Pemberton. WA Click here for the agenda and full details.
  
• 22 June 2017 – Bus Tour, Perth region
  9am sharp, Thursday – Mini-tour of three orchards north of Perth. Click here for the agenda and full details.

Please note that there is a different format and starting time for each of the two events and that it is essential that you RSVP and that you RSVP on time as we have transport to arrange as well as meals to order.

Please RSVP by 9am on Friday 16 June to Simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or text to 0400 565 784 clearly stating “Pemberton field day – names and numbers” and/or stating “Perth tour – names and numbers”.

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Sent on behalf of Simon Newett, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Date Claimer – South Qld Avocado Grower Study Group Workshop Thursday 15 June.

Avocado growers are invited to an avocado study group workshop on Thursday 15 June 2017. Topics on the agenda include an industry update, learning to evaluate pollination, export readiness, mulch, Small Tree High Productivity Initiative research, preparing the ground for planting, the new video “how to plant an avocado tree” and a farm walk.

• Time: 10am – 3.15pm
• Morning location: Lyceum Room of the Somerset Civic Centre, 35 Esk-Hampton Rd, Esk
• Afternoon location: Robert & Janet Gray’s orchard, enter through double gates at 840 Esk-Hampton Rd (8km from Esk)

Please find full details and agenda here.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by 9am Tuesday 13 June with all names and numbers attending to simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or text to 0400 56 57 84 (or leave a message). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

We look forward to seeing you there!

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Sent on behalf of Simon Newett, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Invitation – Central NSW Avocado Study Group Workshop Thursday, 1 June

Avocado growers are invited to an avocado study group workshop on Thursday, 1 June 2017. Topics on the agenda include an industry update, growing quality avocado with a special focus on root rot management and root phosphonate testing, Small Tree High Productivity Initiative, canopy management, plant growth regulants, new Best Practice Resources and a farm walk.

• Time: 10am-3.30pm
• Morning location – note change of venue: Comboyne War Memorial Hall, 7-9 Comboyne Street, Comboyne (a one-hour drive from Port Macquarie)
• Afternoon location: Coastal Avocado’s Wingham Road Orchard, 3803 Wingham Road, Comboyne

Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no cost.

Please find full details and agenda here (pdf).

Morning tea and lunch will be provided but for catering purposes please RSVP by Monday 29 May with names and numbers attending and any special dietary requirements to simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or text 0400 56 57 84.

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events, please visit our events calendar.

Sent on behalf of Simon Newett, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.