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

Edition 3

👋 Hello Friends, and 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 jump right in! 🚀

Read time: 3 minutes

In Today’s Email:

• Q: What’s the Ideal Spacing for a New Mac Orchard?

• U: Beehives with a Sustainable Twist…

• I: How Important is Cross-Pollination… Really!

• P: A Prehistoric-Looking Little Insect-Eater.

• S: Engage and Win the Coolest Tool Ever!

Question❓

What’s the Ideal Spacing for a New Mac Orchard?

Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. So, to help narrow it down, here’s a list of 10 essential factors to consider when deciding on your mac orchard spacing:

1. Size of Farm: Packing a small car for holiday takes more precision, thought, planning and strategy than throwing everything into a big one… it’s no different for a farm. If you want the same outcome, it’s going to take high density planting AND precision management.

2. Soil Type and Quality: Different soil types have varying drainage, aeration, and nutrient-holding capacities, all of which can influence tree growth and, ultimately, tree spacing.

3. Climate: Local climate conditions like temperature, rainfall, and humidity impact tree growth and yield. High rainfall areas may benefit from wider spacing to promote better air circulation and reduce fungal disease risk. In contrast, low rainfall regions may require closer tree spacing to maximise water use efficiency.

4. Water Availability and Irrigation: Your available water and irrigation system efficiency will influence tree spacing. Consider that droughts are inevitable and what those implications are for your orchards – fewer trees per hectare may be wise.

5. Cultivar Characteristics: Different varieties have unique growth habits, tree sizes, and canopy structures. A variety with a large, spreading canopy requires wider spacing to avoid overcrowding and shading, while a more compact, upright-growing variety can be more suitable for closer spacing.

6. Pest and Disease Management: Proper tree spacing can help reduce pest and disease pressure by improving air circulation and spray coverage. An orchard with good air circulation will be less likely to suffer from fungal diseases, while adequate spray coverage ensures effective pest control.

7. Management Style and Labour Resources: Limited labour resources? Wider spacing might make it easier to manage pruning and other maintenance tasks.

8. Harvesting Methods and Equipment: The efficiency of harvesting methods and equipment compatibility may require specific tree spacings for optimal productivity.

9. Orchard Design and Layout: Consider row orientation and slope. Planting rows in a north-south orientation optimizes sunlight exposure, while accommodating the land's slope through terracing can help with water drainage, accessibility and prevent soil erosion.

10. Personal Goals and Yield Expectations: Your goals and yield expectations influence tree density and spacing. If your goal is to achieve high yields within a shorter period, you might opt for a higher tree density. However, if you're focused on long-term sustainability, wider spacing may be more suitable.

Generally, the industry recommended tree spacing for macadamia orchards is 8x4 meters (312 trees per ha). However, some plantings vary from as dense as 6×3 meters (555 trees per ha) all the way to 12x6 meters (138 trees per ha).

👉 Learn From Other Farmers and Their Spacing Considerations:

• JAFF 26

• JAFFESS #1

• JAFFD

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Submit Questions to be Answered Here.

Upskill 📚

🐝 Beehives from Old Tyres!

Give new life to old tyres and create a buzz on your farm with these DIY beehives! Hang them up in trees if your farm is home to any breed of honey thieves. 🍯🦝

What You’ll Need:

• An old tyre.

• Two discs of wood. You can use anything you have on the farm but if you’re going to source especially then we suggest around 10-20mm thick.

• One piece thread-bar, long enough to span the width of the tyre.

• Two nuts – one for each end. (No, macadamia nuts won’t work 🤣) And washers if necessary.

• Silicone or some sort of sealing agent.

How To Make:

• Drill a hole in the bottom of the tyre so that any water, that may leak in, can leak out.

• Cut the two wooden discs about 5cm larger (diameter) than the hole in the tyre so it overlaps the edge comfortably. And drill a hole in the centre of these discs which the thread bar will pass through.

• Place the wooden discs over each side of the tyre and secure together with the nuts, and washers (if required).

• Remember to drill/cut a hole somewhere – either in the wood or in the tyre – so that the bees can access their new home.

• Seal the rest of the hive – between the tyre and wood – to keep the hive as cosy as possible.

• Prime with honey/wax to attract a swarm.

• Hang it up somewhere if you have a resident, or roaming, honey-thief.

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Share Your Own Upskill Tips Here.

Information ℹ️

How Important is Cross-Pollination in Macs and Avos?

Considering the sticky nature of both macadamia and avocado pollen, it's clear that insects, rather than wind, take care of pollination. But the big question is: is cross-pollination truly necessary or not? Well, we know for sure that question will get a healthy debate going…

Through our extensive interactions and first-hand experiences with farmers, it’s undeniably evident that cross-pollination plays an essential role in yield and maintaining overall viability. But, don’t take it from us!

👇Watch this fantastic video on a study done in Australia on just how important cross-pollination is for Macadamias. This presentation was done by Prof Stephen Trueman, to the Green Farms Nut Company suppliers, absolutely fascinating. Thank you, Barry Christie, for allowing us to share.

👉 For More on Cross-Pollination:

• Read Flowers to Nuts - An article all about bees, pollination and everything it takes to get high-quality nuts in large quantities.

• Read JAFF 17’s story and see how cross-pollination is absolutely vital in his environment.

Upcoming Industry Events

• NAMPO 16 – 19 May

• Royal Agricultural Show 26 May – 4 June

• AVI Africa 6 – 8 June

• WoodEX 27 – 29 June

Picture 📷

A Prehistoric-Looking Insect-Eater…

We’d love to know who else had no idea that this is a lady-bird larvae!! 🐞

⏰ 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 🎁

Introducing The Kaliber Black Ops 3 Knife!

Sleek, durable and incredibly effective - the perfect partner to live on your belt and help you navigate any tough situations and guess what - YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN ONE!!!

Here's The Deal: With this super-sharp offer; it's time for you to spring into action. Share your most amazing farm pics, the burning questions you want answered, any ingenious tips or creative solutions and the best submission will win this awesome Kaliber Black Ops 3 knife! 🤝

Get these submissions in by Sunday 5pm and we’ll announce the winner in the next edition of QUIPS – Edition 5.

Mother’s Day Rescue Mission!

Phew!! Did you almost forget? 👀 

Well not to worry because we've got your back - after all, that's what your BFF (Best Farming Friend) is for! 😉

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Mother's Day is just around the corner, this Sunday, May 14th! So, make sure to spoil all the incredible Moms out there!

TropicalBytes salutes all Moms! Keep being the superheroes we know and love – we can’t do what we do without you. Our wish is that you know how loved you are, on Sunday, and EVERY day. 💖💐🌟

Happy Mother's Day from us at TropicalBytes! 🌱💚🥑🌳

That’s a wrap! 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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