citrus congress WA CITRUS 

The Congress focussed on four main areas and included 15 speakers during the forum and 16 speakers and demonstrations during the field day. Bronwyn, the WA citrus industry development manager, and Sue and Dudley Maslen attended the event, along with an estimated 300 registrants. Some of the content from the four focus areas is described below.

Words Bronwyn Walsh, Industry Development Manager, WA Citrus

Focus 1: From global changes to local strategies: adapting and adopting for success

Carol Kong from Commbank presented analyses showing the impact of the US trade war on the Australian citrus industry is expected to be indirect via the impact on other trading partners such as China. In terms of the exchange rate, which affects imports/exports, the Australian dollar (AUD) fell against all the major currencies during the first trade war. They are expecting the AUD/USD will spend some time below 0.60 in 2025 and increased uncertainty about the global economy will pull AUD/Japanese Yen down. On some ‘good news’, supply chains costs are close to ‘normal’ since the disruptions of Covid.

From Nathan Hancock, CEO Citrus Australia, he reported that exports in 2024 increased to similar levels in volume from 2019, of 300,000 tonnes with an increase in value to just over $600 million, from $150,000 in 2015 when exports were just over 200,000 tonnes. The message to diversify markets, after the impact of Covid was felt, shows Japan, Korea, USA and Canada have increased in volume of oranges exported. China and Japan remain the largest markets for orange and mandarin exports. The results to date from a survey on the changes in costs experienced by growers, shows an increase in costs of 26–33% for inputs such as crop protection products to fertiliser as well as shipping and machinery. From the tree census, there is an increase in navels and mandarin plantings across Australia. There is 18% of trees (5,866 ha) that are non-bearing (under 4 years old) and 26% (8,512 ha) are entering production; the remainder are mature (45%, 14,947 ha) or declining (40+ years, 11% 3,656 ha). Nathan again emphasised, for the industry to focus on: Jesse Reader, Head of Investment, Growth and Commercial in Hort Innovation, looked to the future with a general presentation on future disruptive technology such as alternate weeding tech, tractor automation, autonomous harvesting, UVS flashes and AI. Challenging the audience about how ready businesses or orchards were for the future and reviewing the technology into categories: ‘Now and available’, ‘medium term and probably — with continuing merging hardware and software’; and ‘beyond’. Jesse suggested the intensification journey must start now — asking the question “Which orchard do you want to work in?” and how technology can contribute to the orchard of the future.

“ Efficiency, grow more quality, not more tonnes — producing quality from ‘tree to trolley’.  ”

Focus 2: Labour efficiencies-productivity, precision, profitability

All cameras were out filming the latest machinery on display in the trade show and at the field day.

There were several versions of unmanned tractors/ sprayers from a more diverse group than what was demonstrated in WA last year, including:

• Guidolin Agrimac

• Hutcheon & Pearce — global unmanned spray system, Pastro ag sprayer & Smart apply

• Gallard Group

• Agri Automation — as seen in WA last year — Burro & GOTrack Autonomous Retrofit

• plus the Technofruit CF105 picking platform from Galaxy Group.

In WA local analyses of use of the picking platform in an apple orchard showed that it offered efficiencies depending on the physical strength of your workforce and WHS risk of orchard.

In the software space, creating time efficiencies with reduced paperwork were AgCode, Tatou, ABC, Radfords software related to labour as well as between orchard and the packshed data management.

Irrigation scheduling services advertised were from local east coast company Schedule-it and Irribiz.

An information page from Invest In Farming Cooperative (IIF) described them as “enabling everyday people to financially back the industry that feeds them. This consumer-source capital can improve cashflow, minimise risk and foster a connection with consumers that you won’t find anywhere else”. If you’d like to know more — there is a website with FAQs at https://iif.today/faq.

Focus 3: Changing trends in crop protection — what is the future

After discussing several new pests issues in citrus orchards in WA, it was good to learn of a new pesticide is due to be released for citrus in June. This would mean a range of products to consider and allow for rotation of pesticides.

Syngenta Australia recently achieved registration of it’s new insecticide VERTENTO®. VERTENTO® is classified as a Group 30 insecticide, making it the first of its kind registered for use in key tree crops in Australia. This innovative product, powered by PLINAZOLIN® technology, works by targeting the insect’s nervous system at a completely new site, ensuring effectiveness against pests that may have developed resistance to other chemistries.

VERTENTO® insecticide acts through both contact and ingestion, stopping pests feeding within hours of application. While it effectively paralyses insect pests immediately, it may take a couple of days for them to die and fall from the trees. VERTENTO ® insecticide has versatility; making it a valuable tool for citrus growers managing diverse orchards. With a wide window of application, it also makes it easy for growers to include in their insect management program.

In citrus, VERTENTO® insecticide is registered for the control of light brown apple moth, Kelly’s citrus thrips and Fuller’s rose weevil, and will be available for sale from 3Q 2025. Please visit www.syngenta.com.au/vertento for further information including the registered label.

In addition were a range of biostimulants products promoting enhanced plant production. Including Valagro, Agreva, available through Muirs; products from SwitchAg, NSW, including Organic certified and de sangosse.

Focus 4: Fruit quality is just one part of the premium puzzle

From the speakers we heard from topics on improving efficiencies in the supply chain system by:

• the use of RAFT Kit, Reefer air flow technologies, create better airflow to ensure more consistent temperature management throughout the export container

• true fruit forecast for crop estimates

• software for managing labour

• palletizing technologies

– Tomra sorting and grading

– Marketing, Venus Citrus.

Trade show stalls showcased additional information for the Packshed from MAF RODA sorting grading lines that incorporate AI quality systems to improve accuracy and optimise adjustments in defect detection in fruits and Ellips Australia and their GrantorinoTM citrus grader.