December 2025

Fertiliser quality - What growers need to know

How good is your fertiliser? In most cases, the price reflects the quality, but it’s still important for growers to do their own research before choosing a product.

In recent years, lower-quality foliar fertilisers have caused tree damage and increased fruit drop. Testing by a local reseller has revealed that some products have calcium chloride or potassium chloride added. These ingredients are cheaper than the nitrate versions, and the nitrogen content is often topped up with urea instead of higher-quality sources.

Always check the fine print. Many of these products include a small note stating, “For fertigation use only.” This can easily be missed. Not all calcium nitrates or potassium nitrates are the same, and some are not suitable for foliar application.

Before purchasing, make sure the fertiliser is fit for purpose, especially if you plan to apply it to foliage. In general, a lower price often indicates a lower-quality product. As always, seek advice from your agronomist or reseller.

MRL document for citrus exports

An updated Citrus Export Maximum Residue Level (MRL) document compiled by Citrus Australia is now available here  

New pest and disease field ID guide

Pests, beneficials, diseases and disorders in citrus: a field identification guide has been released by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. The guide is for use in the field to help identify insect pests, natural enemies (beneficials), diseases and disorders commonly found in Australian citrus orchards. You can download the guide here or you can grab yourself a hardcopy from a number of sources including Venus Fruits, Nippy’s and Lochert’s packing sheds.

Queensland Fruit Fly: Where CSA Stands, What’s Been Done, and PIRSA’s Response

For more than five years, Citrus SA (CSA) has been a strong advocate for the proactive use of Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) as a modern, strategic tool to protect the Riverland’s Pest Free Area (PFA). Throughout this period, CSA has consistently pushed for greater production capacity at the Port Augusta SIT facility and stronger adoption of SIT during outbreaks and suspension periods. While PIRSA has supported some elements of this work, progress has often been slow or inconsistent, and several key recommendations have not been taken up. SIT numbers produced have increased but face barriers in the “grow out stage”.

CSA has played a central role in fruit fly management across the Riverland. It helped establish and continues to co-fund the Riverland Fruit Fly Coordinator position, participates in weekly and monthly PIRSA-led briefings, and has repeatedly advised government on best-practice outbreak responses. CSA has also invested heavily in practical on-ground measures - including $50,000 towards boosting SIT production, major signage for PFA awareness, and supporting grower education through briefings and technical experts such as Professor Dick Drew and Andrew Jessup. CSA has been active in pushing for improved bait use efficacy, better compliance action (especially for abandoned orchards and repeat offenders), clearer council involvement, and meaningful updates to the outdated Qld Fruit Fly Code of Conduct.

Despite this extensive work, many of CSA’s key recommendations have faced barriers. Some proposals such as reducing suspension zones, expanding SIT trials, research into the longevity of a deployed sterile fly, refining trap strategies, or undertaking research on fly movement have not been supported by PIRSA or the Commonwealth. Other initiatives, such as the decoupling strategy for reinstating the PFA, have received support but remain tied up in national approval processes. CSA has also sought clarity on when SIT should be deployed and what constitutes “low wild fly numbers,” but PIRSA’s responses have not provided the operational detail required.

As CSA continues to advocate for a more flexible and modern eradication approach, it is working with PIRSA on defining an Exit Strategy from Scenario One and planning for decoupling. CSA remains firm that SIT offers the best long-term pathway to prevent endemic fruit fly in the Riverland but meaningful progress will depend on stronger collaboration, clearer technical direction, and a willingness to update outdated systems and legislation.

Your funds at work – Where the HIA Citrus Fund was directed in 2024/25

In 2024/25, more than $4.8 million was invested through the Citrus Fund, supporting marketing, grower support, and innovation across the sector.
To hear more about where your levies were invested, you can watch this summary from Horticulture Innovation CEO Brett Fifield

Could drinking orange juice boost heart health?

Orange juice could be good for your heart health according to an article on the news site, The Conservation. It says a recent study has shown that regular orange juice consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes inside our immune cells. Some of these genes control blood pressures, reduce inflammation and can also manage the way the body processes sugar. You can read the article here and find the full study here.

Fruit size management guide

This past season, many growers struggled with a crop of small fruit. While it’s been around for many years, the Fruit Size Management Guide, published by the former industry body Australian Citrus Growers Incorporated, may contain some helpful advice to assist growers to produce larger fruit. The guide was based on the “Optimisation of Citrus Production and Fruit Size: An Interactive Management Model” project led by Dr Ken Bevington from NSW Agriculture in 1999-2002 with the findings published in 2003.

Part one of the guide is available here and part two can be viewed here.

Christmas message from chair Mark Doecke

As we wrap up another year and season, I’ve been reflecting on how things unfolded. The start of the season looked promising, helped by a more normal summer and the expectation of less albedo. However, as we reached the end of the season, we still had some challenges with albedo, small fruit, and outturn issues.

The Queensland fruit fly situation also continues to be a concern, although it is generally localised to the Renmark district with around 95 per cent of wild flies detections coming from this area. On our recommendation, all sterile flies are currently being deployed in that area. We’re hopeful that the continued decoupling of long-clean areas will remain in place - Swan Reach, for example, is now decoupled.

Thank you for your dedication and hard work throughout the year. We have a highly sought-after commodity when we get quality right, and that’s a credit to you.

As we head into the Christmas season, my wish for you all is that you find time to celebrate - from recognising Jesus’ birth to enjoying family gatherings - and look ahead with hope to the blessings and challenges of the coming year. - Mark Doecke, Chair, Citrus SA.

December production notes
Hedging and pruning: Either hand or machine prune.
Foliar Nutrient spray and Fertigation: Conduct leaf analysis to determine what is lacking in trace elements. Potassium foliar sprays can help boost tree reserves.
GA application: Apply at golf ball size

Calcium application: Many packing sheds are encouraging extra calcium applications to assist with rind strengthening. Consult your agronomist or packhouse or refer to material supplied earlier regarding ways to avoid albedo breakdown.
Pesticide sprays: Critical timing for red scale, LBAM, Mealybug and Spined Citrus Bug. Start Fuller’s rose Weevil Management program.
Earwig reminder: Monitor populations, particularly near vineyards. There are options to control, consult your agronomist or packhouse for further clarifications and take a look at Citrus SA’s earwig control fact sheet.
Irrigation: Continue monitoring during warmer months.
Weed control: Knockdown herbicides or residual herbicides as required.

KCT registration: Registrations close on December 19. More details here

IPM for KCT program: IPMs for the KCT program begin in December

CAL Tree Census: Contact Citrus Australia for more details on completing this year’s census

*All advice is general in nature and growers should always consult their packing shed or agronomist