April 2025
Citrus Grower Pest Day – Loxton Research Centre
About 20 growers gathered at the Loxton Research Centre on April 3 for a Citrus Pest Management Workshop. The session was led by New South Wales DPI’s Stephen Falivene, Andrew Creek, and Andrew Jessop. The workshop covered six key citrus pests, including Red Scale, Mealybugs, and Queensland Fruit Fly (Q fly). Discussions focused on crop monitoring techniques, spray thresholds, and effective treatment options. Andrew Jessop delivered a detailed presentation on Q fly, highlighting its behaviour, lifecycle, and management strategies. The day was well received by attendees, with newer growers gaining valuable insights and more experienced growers benefiting from a timely refresher.
Riverland indicative fruit sizing to March 14
The latest indicative fruit size estimates have been released by Craig Swanbury from Fruit Doctors. See table below.
Decoding the Asian Citrus Psyllid Genome
The Speciality Crop Grower - Citrus Industry magazine from the US reports that the Asian Citrus Psyllid Genome has been decoded. It says a research collaboration between Indian River State College Professor Tom D’Elia has resulted in the successful annotation of the genome. Read more here
Helen’s recognition
Congratulations to Helen Aggeletos from Venus Citrus who was recognised at the Australian Citrus Congress last month with the Value Chain Innovator award. Helen has been at the helm of her family business since 1989 and has made a real mark on the industry with her forward-thinking approach. She’s led the charge on sustainability and clever marketing, launching the Venus Eco Brand and the bold Kissed by Nature range — giving class 2 fruit a whole new lease on life in both local and global markets. Beyond the business, Helen’s also been a strong voice on industry committees and played a key role in getting Riversun off the ground back in 1992.
April production notes
· Copper Sprays:
Begin copper application at the start of April to help minimize any fungal diseases. Spray by variety order starting with early navels and mandarins, mid-season navels, Cara Cara’s, bloods, and mandarins, and then late season navels and mandarins.
· Stop Drop 2,4D Application:
Start applications from mid-April but ensure it is applied at least two weeks after your last copper application. Some growers prefer to apply Stop Drop first, depending on how damp the early Autumn conditions are.
· Autumn GA:
Consult your agronomist about rates and your packer regarding your harvest strategy. Delaying or lengthening your harvest window could prove beneficial.
· Quality Control:
Continue removing sunburnt fruit. Removing now while visible will aid with your pack out.