🌱 Q.U.I.P.S. Edition 8

Integration Tactics, Spray Secrets, Hedge Pruning Realities & More. Your Exclusive Macadamia Pest Poster Awaits! 🎁

June 12, 2023

Question❓| Upskill 📚 | Information ℹ️ | Picture 📷 | Special Offer 🎁

Edition 8

👋 Hey TropicalBytes family, welcome to this week’s edition of Q.U.I.P.S.!

As the fastest-growing subtropical farming community out there, we're thrilled to be your BFF (Best Farming Friend), saving you hundreds of hours by unearthing hidden gems like actionable tips, practical knowledge, industry insights, and so much more - all with the end goal of equipping you for excellence and success.

Before we dive into today’s edition, we’d love for you all to share your thoughts, ask any burning questions you may have, or let us know which topics you’d love to see covered. Remember, we’re here for you - the awesome TropicalBytes community!

Let's dive right in! 🚀

Estimated read time: 3 minutes

In Today’s Email:

  • Q: What is Vertical Integration as Opposed to Horizontal Integration? 🤔

  • U: How to Assess the Calibration of Your Spray Equipment ✅

  • I: The Good, Bad, and Ugly Realities of Hedge Pruning 🪚

  • P: Capturing Nature's Harmony 🐝

  • S: Your Free PDF Macadamia Pest Poster! 🎁

Question❓

What is Vertical Integration as Opposed to Horizontal Integration?

Okay, so we've all heard the advice of not putting all our 'eggs' in one basket. Sure, it sounds smart, but how do we choose the right baskets? And distribute those eggs just right?

It’s quite the big question; one that JAFF 11 answered brilliantly; “If you’re going to be brave, at least spread the risk.” JAFF 11 is involved in a number of businesses and crops and suggests that farmers should consider options in both horizontal AND vertical avenues.

So, what's horizontal integration all about? In a nutshell, crop diversification. JAFF 11 interplants guavas between their macs when establishing a young orchard. By the time these macs are all grown up and pulling their weight (financially), the guavas are ready to come out.

As for avo farmers, while their main game are avos, they've mastered the art of making the most of what they've got. They plant macadamia trees in those areas of their land that are just a bit too "pieperige" (fussy) for avos.

A picturesque scene of guava trees interplanted among a thriving macadamia orchard. The guava trees add diversity to the landscape, with their broad leaves and lush green foliage contrasting with the slender branches of the macadamia trees.

Guavas are interplanted with the young macs for the first 4 to 5 years, and then the guavas are removed.

BUT HOLD UP!

JAFF warns against over-diversifying!

JAFF tried to break the guava disease cycle (more on this in JAFF 11’s article) by growing cabbage, granadilla and pawpaws as rotational crops. However, it turned out that this was one adventurous leap into diversification too far, with some solid lessons learnt from the experience.

Taking this wisdom to heart, they started to look up and down rather than across and found some real opportunities in vertical integration. They soon saw that there were added benefits to this option that they hadn’t anticipated.

An informative infographic presenting a square graph-like design that illustrates the concepts of horizontal and vertical integration in the context of Macadamia and Avocado farming. The graph showcases the relationships and connections between different aspects of these agricultural practices, providing a visual representation of the integration strategies employed in the industry.

But, it’s not the whole solution.

For a deep dive into the pros and cons of both options; read JAFF 11’s story (link)

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Got a Burning Question? Submit your Questions to be Answered Here

Upskill 📚

How to Assess the Calibration of Your Spray Equipment

The risks of not spraying effectively are, quite simply, terrifying; not only do you waste money, time and resources, you also risk building resistance in the already persistent bugs. It pays to double-check your mixing ratios, tractor speed and, most crucially, your spray penetration.

What we’ve got here is a simple and cost-effective way to assess if your spraying is on point, from a penetration perspective. And we learnt it on the farm of one of our country’s top entomologists.

A big thanks to JAFF 10 for this gem.

Here's How You Can Create Your Very Own Calibration Test Stick:

What you’ll need:

  • One piece of narrow electrical conduit pipe or a really tall stick – as tall as your tallest trees.

  • 3 stationery bulldog clamps.

  • Litmus paper.

Method:

  1. Attach one clip to the very top of the pole, one to the lower part of the pole, at the height of your lowest branches and one in the middle. Best to attach with something really strong, like wire.

  2. Put a piece of litmus paper in each clamp.

  3. Place your pole up against the central leader, in the middle of a tree in your orchard.

  4. Drive your spray rig past the tree with the pole at the speed you are planning to do the whole orchard at. JAFF often hides this pole so that the spray team is tested without having a chance to “cheat” and go slow when it counts. You can use water for this test.

  5. Retrieve the pole and assess your spray penetration and coverage. A drenched paper = good penetration.

Outcome:

If it’s good, load up on chemical (correctly mixed 😉) and go. If it’s too little, you need to make adjustments – perhaps it’s pruning, tractor speed, or spray calibration, like droplet size or pressure. Keep testing until you've got it right.

This seems like a lot of effort but JAFF vouches for its value. He says it is not only going to tell you whether your equipment is working as it should but it is also an excellent way to assess your pruning.

Keep checking until you are absolutely happy that the chemical you plan to spray throughout the orchard is going to be as effective as possible. You will not only minimise the number of times you have to spray, you will also limit resistance build-up.

If you do these checks early in the season, you can be ready as soon as the first sprays are required.

A captivating image capturing a spray rig in action within a macadamia orchard. The spray rig is being tested for spray efficiency and penetration using a spray calibration test stick, featuring litmus paper at the top, middle, and bottom sections of the tree. The litmus paper helps assess the actual spray penetration into the tree, ensuring effective coverage and proper application of agricultural treatments in the orchard.

If you look at the litmus paper in the centre of the picture above, where penetration/coverage was good, you can see that the penetration in the upper part of the tree is not what it should be. As this is where the stink bugs hang out, it’s worth addressing the elements limiting full penetration.

👉 For More From the Incredible JAFF 10: Read his full story here (link)

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Share Your Own Upskill Tips Here

Information ℹ️

The Good, Bad, and Ugly Realities of Hedge Pruning

An image showcasing a hedge pruning implement parked in a farmer's shed. This specialized tool is specifically designed for hedge pruning in macadamia orchards. The implement features four circular blades that efficiently cut and trim the branches of macadamia trees, ensuring proper maintenance and shaping of the orchard for optimal growth and productivity.

“Hedge Pruning” - Now, there's a term that gets the pruning guru’s raising an eyebrow! 🤨

No one recommends it but, still, it has its place and there are even a few JAFF’s with the machinery quietly tucked away in their shed. Some even use it! 🧐

But like any tool in the farming toolbox, it comes with its own list of pros and cons.

Lets weight them up.

THE UPSIDES:

  • It’s fast – If speed is your game and all you need is quick access into an orchard so that more precision pruning is possible, then Bob’s your uncle.

  • Minimal labour – It's a one-man show here. Just a tractor driver…

  • Minimal skill – Just a tractor driver… who can drive straight of course.

THE NOT-SO-GREAT BITS:

  • Stimulates hedge-like growth which results in reduced light and spray penetration into the tree.

  • Many small cuts result in excessive vegetative growth which limits productive growth.

  • Over time, it minimises productive wood as the old wood inside doesn’t produce and the very young growth on the outside is too immature.

  • You can only prune two sides; the others remain unchecked and grow into the neighbouring tree.

  • Hedgers that cut at an angle of 45° angle cut into numerous branches (thick mature wood) at the top of the tree and create a lot of regrowth in that area which will need to be controlled later, BY HAND – this is very labour intensive.

  • Expensive implement.

A captivating view captured down the row of a Beaumont macadamia orchard after the hedge pruning machine has completed its work. The neatly pruned trees stand in perfect alignment, showcasing the meticulous care taken to maintain the orchard. The open pathway between the rows provides a clear perspective of the orchard's layout, highlighting the impact of the pruning process on the overall appearance and management of the macadamia trees.

This Beaumont orchard, that has been pruned using the all shear, produced 7,8t/h (WIS) last year.

Here Are Two JAFF's Using Hedge Pruners:

👉 For a Deep Dive Into Pruning: Unearth the secrets in this pruning article (link)

Upcoming Industry Events

Picture 📷

Capturing Nature's Harmony

A delightful image capturing the essence of a healthy macadamia orchard. In the foreground, a last season's nut with a burst husk is prominently displayed, surrounded by intricate spider webs, representing a thriving ecosystem. Prolific buds and vibrant, healthy flowers adorn the surrounding branches, symbolizing the orchard's vitality. At the center of the frame, a busy bee diligently works, highlighting the essential role of pollinators in the macadamia orchard's success.

A happy picture; last season’s nut with a burst husk and covered in webs (healthy eco-system), prolific buds, strong, healthy flowers and, of course, the star of the shot; a busy bee! 🐝

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Share your farm pics, ideas, tips, or solutions with the TropicalBytes community to inspire one another, overcome challenges, and elevate your operations – together. Share Here

Special Offer 🎁

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A visually appealing poster designed by TropicalBytes showcasing their newly redesigned macadamia pest poster. The poster offers valuable information on various pests affecting macadamia trees, their identification, and recommended pest management strategies. The poster is available for free download in PDF format, providing a valuable resource to the audience interested in macadamia cultivation and pest control.

Add to your collection of TropicalBytes Posters with our all new designed Macadamia Pest Poster! Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or a curious newbie, this handy resource is a must-have.

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That’s a wrap folks! We hope you enjoyed this week’s QUIPS edition.

Don't forget to join us in the comments section below 👇 – it's kinda like a family Braai but better! There, you'll find no screaming kids, awkward photos, or tipsy uncles telling bizarre stories. Let's get the conversations cookin'! 🔥 

Until then, happy farming, deep learning, and warm smiles.

We'll see you next week! 🌱

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