July 2026
Upcoming Citrus Growers Fund public meeting
South Australian citrus growers are encouraged to attend the annual Citrus Growers Fund (CGF) public meeting, to be held online at 9am on Tuesday, July 28.
Under the Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998, the Citrus Growers Fund Management Plan is reviewed each year and presented at a public meeting. The revised plan outlines projected grower contributions over the next five years, proposed investment priorities, and how the fund will support eligible projects that benefit the South Australian citrus industry.
This is an opportunity to hear about the proposed management plan, ask questions and provide feedback on how your industry fund is managed.
More details here
Adelaide markets tour
Citrus SA will host a tour of the South Australian Produce Markets (Pooraka), Nippy’s Adelaide plant and the Adelaide Central Markets on Friday, August 14. The tour will kick off at 6am at the SA Produce Markets (Pooraka) – meet at the main gate. Breakfast will be supplied. If you are interested in attending, please email chair@citrussa.com.au or contact@citrussa.com.au or call Mark Doecke on 0408499287 for more details and to register.
Season update
The season has presented its share of challenges, with wet weather disrupting picking operations across many orchards. Despite this, local markets have remained strong and export programs have continued at a steady pace. Globally, the citrus industry is facing ongoing economic pressures, which are influencing both market demand and the prices achieved across different grades of fruit.
Fruit quality has generally been good where orchards are protected by netting. In non-netted blocks, growers have seen higher levels of cosmetic blemishes across the district. Early navel varieties produced mostly medium-sized fruit, while Washington navels are averaging around one size larger, with 72s and 56s proving common. Cara Cara fruit is showing similar sizing, while mandarins, as always, are a mixed bag, ranging from small to large. Overall production volumes are comparable with recent seasons, although mandarin volumes are slightly lower.
Every season brings a new set of challenges, and experience teaches us to adapt to whatever conditions come our way. As always, the focus remains on producing high-quality, clean fruit. Stay positive, continue striving for excellence, and the rewards will follow.
Online fertiliser dashboard
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has released an online fertiliser dashboard. This resource provides insights into indicator prices and global supply for urea, as well as information on Australian supply for a range of other fertiliser products.
You can access the dashboard here:
July production tips
Later winter GA spray: The main objective for this spray is to regulate flowering.
Copper applications: Due to the recent wet weather, any fruit that is not being harvested in the next few weeks could benefit from an extra copper application. Seek advice from your agronomist or packing shed.
Winter foliar Urea Spray: This spray can assist in producing healthy bud initiation, especially following heavy crop set.
Frost Control Measures: It is important to identify frost prone areas and implement measures to prevent, detect and reduce frost risks.
Irrigation Maintenance: This is an ideal time to do irrigation maintenance and flush irrigation lines.
Crop estimates and size: It is important to regularly update your fruit size and yield estimates and communicate this with your packer. This will assist with marketing strategies in particularly the export markets.
Pruning of early maturing varieties: Your pruning program should commence once harvest on early maturing varieties has been completed.
Snail baiting: Areas to be controlled are centre sods/rows, under skirts, headlands and bin storage areas. Snails are a quarantinable pest for the USA markets.
*As always, these tips are general in nature and growers should consult their agronomist or packing shed for individual advice.