Got something strange happening in your grove? An issue you just can’t solve? You may find the answer walking in the grove during next week’s Australian National Olive Industry Conference and Trade Exhibition.
This year’s event has a strong focus on grove management, with plenary sessions backed up by in-grove sessions on the Friday and as part of the Saturday optional program.
NSW DPI grove
Day two of the conference program heads to the Charles Sturt University complex for discussion walks through the site’s grove. Along with a history of the grove and the research projects undertaken, presenters will cover topics including irrigation, pruning and pest identification, with an opportunity to discuss grove issues which have arisen throughout the conference. The session will also include a drone demonstration by Mike Thomsett, the practical element of his day one Drones in Groves presentation.
AOA CEO and Conference organiser Greg Seymour said the session will provide delegates with unprecedented access to expert advice and information.
“There’ll be six industry experts at call in the field, there specifically to discuss issues raised by the delegates and provide answers to their questions. It’ll be a dynamic group discussion session, where people get to ask and hear about the things they’re interested in, not necessarily what people want to tell them.”
‘Super Saturday’ Wollundry Grove walk
The optional Saturday program moves back into the grove for a late afternoon walk through Bruce and Joo-Yee Spinks’ Wollundry Grove. Home to 2000 trees planted in 1998, the grove comprises five varieties, four for oil and two sub-cultivars of Manzanillo for table olives.
The Wollundry grove walk will again provide an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions in the grove, with plenty of expertise on hand for answers. Bruce and Joo-Yee will talk about the grove and their site-specific practices, horticultural consultants Andrew Taylor and Mike Thomsett will cover pruning and general grove management, and IPDM specialist Robert Spooner-Hart will handle anything to do with pests and disease. Bruce and Joo-Yee are also keen to speak with growers interested in finding out more about their sustainable production practices.
Delegates are sure to find a wealth of answers to grove management questions during the field sessions. Join experts in the grove for the chance to listen, learn, question and discuss all those things you always wanted to know but never had the opportunity to ask.
