Crop load metrics throughout the season

November 2025 | Presented by Jack Wilson, AgFirst | Future Orchards® presentation and video

Crop-load management is most effective when growers measure the crop repeatedly rather than relying on a single count. In this Future Orchards® resource, Jack Wilson of AgFirst works through the metrics that can be used at different stages of the season to determine whether a block is tracking toward its production and fruit-quality targets.

Useful measurements change as the crop develops. Bud and flower counts help establish early crop potential, fruitlet counts show how thinning is progressing, and later fruit number, fruit size and harvest estimates allow managers to refine labour and packout expectations. The objective is to connect each measurement to a decision rather than collecting data for its own sake.

Season-long crop-load metrics also improve learning between seasons. When target crop load, actual fruit number, fruit size, packout and return bloom are recorded together, growers can refine thinning specifications for each variety and block and create more reliable production targets over time.