Growers were able to learn more about the future orchard production systems(FOPS) project at a field walk in Roxburgh that took place in early November. A good number of growers from across the wider district and the Summerfruit NZ team attended.
Sam Hobbs and Stephen Darling talked about some of the issues that they have encountered in growing and training the NZ Summer 2 and 3 apricot trees. These included different growth habits, vigour, bacterial disease, bud take, and when is the best time economically to put up the next wire.
Jack Wilson from Agfirst in Hawkes Bay talked through the economic analysis of data that has been gathered from the early adopters of FOPS in apples in Hawkes Bay. Jack highlighted that a key benefit of FOPS is the extra income on the bottom line from improved packouts, from as little as a five percent increase in class one fruit. While this is not stone-fruit data, the comparison is relevant and shows early cost and production data across the various growing styles.
Jack is now looking for stone fruit growers to join the comparison. He is interested in working with FOPS/UFO (upright fruiting off-shoots) growers, those on slender spindle, or KGB as well as more traditional open center trees. Those taking part in this work will become part of AgFirst’s OrchardNet benchmarking, for free, for the next five years.
Contact Jack directly on 0275608560 or email below:
Email Jack
A copy of the initial economic analysis, and a manual on how to establish a bi-axis orchard, can be found on Summerfruit NZ’s portal under Knowledge Base/On-orchard/Planting systems under the SFFF FOPS Field Day - Kerrimuir Orchard - November 2022 heading.
