Economic performance of high-density orchards

June 2007 | Prepared by Paul James, Rural Solutions SA | Future Orchards® Orchard Walk notes

These notes provide an economic snapshot of high-density apple orchards in Australia, using the Lenswood Horticultural Centre systems trial as a practical reference. The trial was established in 1999 to compare production performance, labour requirements and overall economics across intensive orchard systems.

The resource links orchard density with the Future Orchards® goal of improving yield and packout through plantings around and above 2,500 trees per hectare. It emphasises that higher density can accelerate canopy development and early production, but only when establishment cost, labour inputs, rootstock choice and system management are considered together.

Growers considering redevelopment can use the notes as a framework for comparing capital cost against speed of return, mature productivity and labour efficiency rather than judging orchard systems on tree numbers alone.