Future Orchards 2012 introduction

September 2006 | Future Orchards® 2012 program introduction

This early Future Orchards 2012 resource introduces the national extension program established to help Australian apple and pear growers improve orchard productivity and move towards international competitiveness. The program was managed by APAL with technical leadership from AgFirst.

The project focused on three core drivers: reducing orchard production costs per kilogram, increasing the proportion of premium fruit harvested and improving the ability of Australian orchardists to compete in domestic and export markets. Intensive production systems were a major part of the strategy.

Designated blocks with different tree densities were monitored in apple and pear growing districts, and regular orchard walks were used to give growers first-hand comparisons of costs, returns and production performance. The program combined technical extension with measurement and demonstration.

The introduction provides useful context for the many Future Orchards® resources that followed. It establishes the original program logic: measure orchard performance, demonstrate better systems under commercial conditions and use the results to accelerate adoption across the industry.