Ethrel Use and Experiences

Prepared by: Bill Johnstone

October 2014

Background • Alstonville Plateau, Northern Rivers

• 1989 – 344 & 741, 8x4m

• 1990 – A4 & A16, 8x4m

• 1999 – 849 & A4 , 9x4m

• 6 year production average – 4.3 t NIS / ha

– 1.5 t SK / ha

2009-2011 2012-2014

15ha 12.9ha

4,600 trees 3,900 trees

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• Major Macadamia producing region • Surrounded by other macadamia orchards • Yet lower pest pressure and minimal losses to insect damage

• WHY? Breaking crop cycle part of the answer

• Why ?– Initially to remove/prevent sticktytes in A varieties – Continued to evolve – To enable orchard work earlier in the year

• Difference– Industry “standard” (common)

– Our Method (Ethrel)

Use of Ethrel

Clean up & prep Harvest Orchard work for next crop

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Clean up & prep Harvest Orchard work for next crop

Jan Feb Mar Mar Apr May JunJun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2mths 6mths 4mths

2mths 3mths 7mths

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Use of Ethrel 168

36

Industry Standard Our Method

Substantially reduced harvesting costs

$$$

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"Industry Standard"Harvest start date Start of MarchHarvest finish date Start of September

Harvest period 28 days / month

*Harvesting every week6 months of the year

Total Harvest days 168 harvest days per year

Our Method (Ethrel)Harvest start date mid MarchHarvest finish date Mid June

Harvest period 12 days / month

*2 weeks on, 2 weeks off3 months of the year

Total Harvest days 36 harvest days per year

1. Reduced Harvest period Reduced harvest machinery costs (more tonnes on less hours)

2. Start orchard work for next crop sooner Orchard floor, Canopy, nutrition and repairs

3. May/June typically wet in Nth Rivers Our harvest majority completed by “wet season” Reduced risk

4. No long term health issues for the trees Over 11 seasons of continual use of ethrel

5. Forced understanding of spray coverage and volume Ethrel sensitivities ; get wrong = big losses

6. No out of season flowering

7. Reduced pest pressure Continual cropping prevented, broke cycle/food source No lace bug spray applied to date (pest consultant monitoring fortnightly)

Use of Ethrel – Benefits

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Reduced pest pressureNo resorting of NIS

since 2008

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Insect bottom blue

Timing◦ Soil temperature ◦ Air temperature ◦ Tree stress◦ Wet weather (diluting and penetration)◦ Harvest◦ Maturity and testing

Weather◦ Timing of application ◦ Harvest

Machinery◦ Spray coverage and volume ◦ Harvest equipment ◦ Leaf drop management◦ Shed and handling of bulk NIS/NIH

Use of Ethrel – Challenges

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Spraying Equipment

• 2006 – purchased SARDI fans and installed on a tower.

• Reaches 8m high up on front forks + trailing air blast sprayer

• Greatly improved coverage

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• Soil temp of 14 degrees C or greater• Air temp of 25 degrees C or greater• Will still work when drops slightly below optimal

temperatures – advise to increase application rate 15-20%

• Maturity testing is important – for maximum nut drop – reduce the percentage of light immaturity

• Weather forecast – wet weather and cold snaps

• Processor communication

Decision time, key factors -

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• Know which strength you have (480 or 720)

• Variety sensitive

• We started with industry knowledge of rates– Refined over time

• MPC has done extensive R&D work on the rate info by region and variety(tables)

Rates

*Northern Rivers region

Variety Rate (480 strength) Rate (720 strength)

A470 mls/100 L

plus Non ionic wetter47 mls/100 L

plus Non ionic wetter

A16200-250 mls / 100 Lplus Non ionic wetter

133 to 167 mls/100 L plus Non ionic wetter

849200 mls / 100 L

plus Non ionic wetter133 mls/100 L

plus Non ionic wetter

74180 mls / 100 L

plus Non ionic wetter53 mls/100 L

plus Non ionic wetter

34480 mls / 100 L

plus Non ionic wetter53 mls/100 L

plus Non ionic wetter

Before going to an Ethrel program;1. Have a method to assess maturity

(processor assistance)

2. Need logistics for harvesting BULK volume of NIS Harvest, staff, on farm transport, dehusk, transport, short

term storage & transport to processor

3. Need good tree health 4. Need very good spray coverage and volumes5. Need confidence in weather forecast

Recommendations

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• Ethrel has potential for wider use in Macadamia production

• Reduces pest pressures

• Breaks out of season cropping and food source for pests

• Reduces risk

– bad weather and loss of nut

• Quality improvements

– less kernel deterioration in tree

• Reduces harvest time and costs

• More time to focus on growing next years crop ($$$)

Summary

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• No long term tree health issues

– 11 years use and NO LONG TERM TREE HEALTH ISSUES

Summary

Can you pick which block has been sprayed with Ethrel for 11 years?

BOTH

•Questions?

Thank you

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