A berry co-operative in New South Wales is involved in two projects aimed at improving productivity and efficiency in the region.
Oz Group Co-Op Ltd Chief Executive Brett Kelly explains that one is a nutrient calibration project for blueberries grown on a few distinctive soil types in the region, and the other is a spray volume calibration project, specific to blueberries dependent on their growth habit, size and spray unit used by the grower.
"Both these trials aim to increase productivity/efficacy to the industry, while reducing the impacts on the environment," he said. "Other projects we are involved in revolve around pollination, ensuring our localized orchard bee populations are healthy and active through drone and heat sensors tech, and farm app technology which allows streamline dissemination and integration of agronomic/production information."
The co-operative has 160 member/growers, predominantly Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour region which produce blueberries, blackberries and raspberries produced. Production timing has been pretty late this year due to the extended cold weather we had coming out of winter.
"The cold weather coupled with a few days of wet weather that coincided with a flush of flowering also negatively affected pollination, which led to smaller berry sizes on some varieties," Mr Kelly said. "We too had a couple of major frost events that placed a dint into our production this year. Some unseasonably early hail events also did not help our cause."
The Coffs Coast has the perfect climate for growing blueberries, and is the main area for production in the country. Nationally, production is expanding year on year, with the 2016-17 figures from Hort Innovation showing Australia produced 9,553 tonnes, an increase of 25 per cent from the previous year with a value of $193.6million.
Mr Kelly adds that this season Oz Group has been working closer with growers on best management practices in regards to chemical application and fertilizer usage.
"We are confident that fertilizer usage, especially nitrogen, will get more efficient with lesser wastage in the following seasons to come," he said. "We have been working closely with the DPI NSW in regards to these two matters, which have led to two projects that we are involved in."
Oz Group supplies mainly domestic markets through a partnership with Driscolls who manage the marketing and distribution, with some export. Mr Kelly says both markets growing, with "very strong" demand with a desire for top quality.
"We are a true 100 per cent Australian farmer owned Co-operative that contributes substantially back into the regional economy. The industry contributes over S1billion per annum," Mr Kelly said.
For more information
Brett Kelly
Oz Group Co-Op Ltd
Phone: +61 2 6654 7119
accounts@ozgroupcoop.com.au
www.ozgroupcoop.com.au