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

Edition 6

👋 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: Where's the Tipping Point, Where Quality Outweighs Quantity? 🤔

• U: Top-notch Planting Technique & The Mac Master QUIZ Champion 🏆

• I: The Dangerous Illusion of Calendar Spraying 🚫

• P: A Two-Spotted Stinker… Nymph 🪲

• S: Special Offers Tailored By You! 🎁

Question❓

Where's the Tipping Point, Where Quality Outweighs Quantity?

“Bigger and more” is no longer better. Nowadays, the attention has turned towards "small, whole, and pale" varieties…

The story behind this shift isn't hard to pin down.

Not too long ago, when the mac market was a veritable seller’s paradise and it seemed insatiable, cranking up production made sense and was the way to go. Plus, we were also catering to a clientele that preferred nuts in shell - a forgiving presentation that could easily hide a multitude of quality sins. But the tables have turned, buyers now have a little more choice to choose from, and boy, are they making the most of it! (and, they want their nuts shelled, thank you very much).

In this new landscape of discerning markets, the ticket to premium pricing isn't a game of sheer volume. It's QUALITY that's stealing the limelight...

Let's add some numbers to this:

Consider style 1 integs, noted for their whole, pale, and delicious characteristics, fetching a cool R100/kg. Sure, they may only yield 2 tonnes per hectare, but their TKR (Total Kernel Recovery) is a whopping 40%. Break that down: it's 800 kg x R100, raking in a tidy R80k from a single hectare.

Now compare that against style 4 hybrids - the ones that are broken, dark, and to put it mildly, 'meh'. Selling for half the price (R50/kg), they do boast a higher yield of 4 tonnes per hectare. But their TKR is somewhat less impressive, hovering around 35%. Crunch the numbers: that's 1400 kgs x R50, translating to R70k per hectare.

You see the picture? Despite yielding half as much, Style 1 integs pull in more revenue per hectare. Why? Because quality simply trumps quantity!

*(NB: Prices used are for illustration only)

👉 For More: Read what JAFF 16 (Covid JAFF) has to share on this topic (Link)

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Submit your Questions to be Answered Here.

Upskill 📚

The Ultimate Planting Technique: Keeping it Together Until the Very End.

As we know, the roots of young trees are quite literally its lifeblood. Strong, healthy and undamaged roots are essential for a productive, resilient tree. But planting can be a risky game for these precious roots, exposing them to the harsh realities of the world.

What if they didn’t ever need to be exposed though?

Here is a simple but brilliant technique, demonstrated in a video by COVID JAFF (thanks to him 🌟) to make sure that your young trees roots remain cocooned and in perfect condition (Link)

And this technique even comes with the stamp of approval from JAFF 5 (Link)

🚨 THE MAC MASTER QUIZ WINNER!! 🚨

Last week, we challenged you all to show off your knowledge about all things Mac’s.

And the topdog is… 🥁 Drumroll, please! 🥁… Barry Christie! 🎉

Congratulations Barry!

It’s really no surprise that Barry nailed it - he's a mac industry legend.

Barry, we're not just giving you a shoutout, we're expressing our admiration for the work you do. We're honoured to have you as part of our TropicalBytes community, thank you.

And a huge thanks to everyone who participated in the showdown. Stay tuned for the next challenge!

⏰ Friendly Reminder: Share Your Own Upskill Tips Here.

Information ℹ️

Understanding Insects: The Dangerous Illusion of Calendar Spraying…

Scout / calendar spray / scout & still calendar spray… There are almost as many approaches to pulling the trigger on pests as there are farmers; and each one has their reasons.

But there’s some vital information to consider if you’re using a calendar to schedule sprays; INSECTS DON’T USE CALENDARS! 

Well – that’s not entirely true… they just don’t have days in their calendars; they have heat units. That means that they ONLY develop in moderate temperatures (within a range of about 10,5°C and 33°C). Outside of this, they take a developmental day off.

Eg: the number of heat units to complete a two-spotted stink bug’s life cycle is approx. 338. If all days are stable and mid-range temperate, that equates to about 21 days. But with the frequent hot and cold fluctuations we’re experiencing? It could stretch to 40 days or even more. And to make it even more complicated - it’ll be different in every province, area, farm and micro-climate.

So, you see now why scheduled sprays are so dangerous? Not only do they potentially drain your wallet, focus and resources, but they can also inadvertently foster pest resistance.

How do we apply this knowledge?

Consistent, meticulous scouting is the key. Keep a close eye on insect numbers and their developmental stages. Be precise and proactive. For instance, initiate your spray precisely when nymphs hit their second stage. This one-two punch will take out both adults and the next generation of nymphs, extending the time before the next spray becomes necessary.

But don’t let your guard down just yet. The adults persist in their attempt to invade your orchard, so your vigilance must match their tenacity. The ultimate strategy? Control the number of immatures before their mouthparts develop to size where they can wreak havoc on the crop.

👉 For More: Read this awesome article on pest management (Link)

👉 See how: JAFF 3 follows a similar strategy with great success (Link)

Upcoming Industry Events

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Picture 📷

The Two-Spotted Stink-Bug (Nymph)

Cute but so not-cute! 

For all those scouting here’s what a two-spotted stink bug nymph looks like. 👀🔎

🤓 Fun Fact: The two-spotted stink bug initially emerges into this world flaunting a vibrant shade of red or orange, gradually transitioning to a more mature, adult-like appearance. This metamorphosis isn't a singular event; rather, it's composed of five distinct stages, or as the experts call them “instars”. In each of these instars, the nymphs shed their exoskeleton, growing larger and increasingly resembling their adult form.

⏰ 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 🎁

Shape Your Own Special Offers!

Phew!! A Special Offer each and every week is impressive right? 😅 

It’s also impressively challenging to come up with something that sparks your interest. We love it, but we also know that the most memorable and enjoyable offers are those that perfectly meet YOUR desires. 🤩

So, here's the deal for this week: we're turning the tables!

It's your turn to have the say in our next Special Offers and what you'd love to see more of in this space. We're all ears and can't wait to invest our creative energy into something that truly resonates with you.

Don't hold back... let us in on what you want.

Are there any specific companies’ products, services or resources you're eyeing out for discounts? Whatever it may be, the power is in your hands. Just click the button below and let us know! We can't wait to hear from you. 🙏

Right here, right now! 👇

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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