Young growers building new skills and networks on orchard walks
March 4, 2026Round three of the Future Orchards® Young Grower Immersion Program saw three participants spend a week with the…
Meet the industry’s next generation of researchers
The PIPS 4 Profit program is committed to developing emerging talent within the apple and pear industry’s research community. Australia’s apple and pear industry continues to need researchers who are experienced…
Smarter orchard renovation: boosting returns with multi-leader training systems
February 18, 2026A variety of planar canopy structures are being trialled and evaluated in Tasmania under an orchard renovation scenario….
Using water more efficiently in a drier climate
February 11, 2026As water supply becomes more scarce, what orchard management strategies can growers adopt to reduce water use? Strategies …
Counting down to harvest – crop load metrics throughout the season
January 28, 2026Gathering crop load metrics from the pruning stage right through to harvest, and using those numbers and data…
Testing biological controls in the lab: setting up in vitro bioassays
January 14, 2026Research led by Agriculture Victoria pathologist Dr Tonya Wiechel is evaluating promising biological control agents identified in global research, testing them against…
Development of ecofriendly selective pesticides to safeguard honey bees
December 17, 2025A new approach to pesticide design aims to identify safer, more selective and environmentally friendly agents for the control of insect and arachnid pests. Of…
Microplastics in the orchard
December 10, 2025Gordon Brown reviews research investigating the impacts of microplastics on seedling apple rootstock performance. Plastics have become…
Harnessing nature: advancing conservation biological control in Tasmanian apple orchards
December 2, 2025Researchers at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture are working on several initiatives that support an integrated, more ecological-based approach to managing key pests in…
Leadership through empowerment
November 26, 2025Build your orchard team and set them up for success by creating processes and structures and providing role clarity. Ben…
