How long can we keep doing the same thing?

July 2015 | Presented by Mark Trzaskoma, Battunga Orchards | Future Orchards®

Mark Trzaskoma’s presentation documents the thinking that drove Battunga Orchards to question conventional three-dimensional tree systems and move toward simpler, more two-dimensional orchard canopies. The starting point was a recognition that production and packout had plateaued and that repeating the same management approach was unlikely to deliver the next step in performance.

The presentation links orchard design with labour efficiency, data and mechanisation. Experiences from other orchards, including overseas systems, prompted Battunga to trial new approaches rather than wait for a fully proven local template. The goal was not novelty for its own sake, but a more uniform canopy that could improve access, fruit quality, repeatability of pruning and thinning, and compatibility with platforms and future automation.

Battunga’s later work showed the value of detailed block records when assessing system changes. Production, packout and cost information allowed the business to compare old and new approaches and decide where conversion or redevelopment made economic sense.

For growers, the resource is a case study in challenging entrenched practice. It encourages structured experimentation, clear measurement and a willingness to redesign orchard systems when existing blocks no longer support productivity, quality or labour-efficiency targets.