Warren Elvery Victoria Park

Plantation

Manager of Victoria

Park Plantation

Over 330 hectares in production ◦ Over 70,000 trees

◦ Average tree age is 20-25yo

◦ Spacing is 7m x 4m

Started career in macadamia production at age 18

Variety

Region

Enterprise aims and goals ◦ Economics

Have a plan and Start early!

Agronomic aims – ◦ Harvesting light Leaves

◦ Maintain ground cover ◦ Machinery access ◦ Pest management ◦ Nutrient requirements

Harvesting

light

Build

carbohydrate &

reserves

Produce

crop

End tree phenomena

Yield per hectare = maximise

Inputs per hectare = minimise

1. Tree training

2. Pruning for density

Topping

Staghorning

Sacrificial

Phasing out

Young trees - not touching

Trees starting to touch

Begin phasing out middle tree

Remove middle tree

Reworking

Replanting

Maintain alley ways

Looks good

“wall of death”

Remove new fruiting wood

Internal void

Time of year and staged

Positives Negatives

• Maintain access for machinery • Mechanical pruning • Low labour cost

• Wall of death • Internal void • Effective canopy distorted

Shape the structure of the tree

Inter row growing limbs

Active canopy of limb

Opening a window in canopy

Positives Negatives

• Keeps internal canopy productive • Allows increased light penetration • Shapes the tree structure • Remove large unproductive limbs • Chipping limbs back onto orchard floor

• Hard work • Labour requirements • Time consuming • Each tree different

Staggered ◦ 25%

◦ 50%

Individual trees

Whole row

Both

Active Canopy Volume

Large equipment required

Positives Negatives

• More light into canopy and orchard floor

• Capital costs (hire or purchase) •Stumps

1. Topping

2. Stag Horning

3. Replant individual trees after storm damage

4. DO NOTHING

Have a plan

Start early

Phase out trees

Focus on increasing active canopy volume (photosynthesising leaves)

Commit ◦ Making the decision is the hardest part ◦ Make the decision and stick to it ◦ Canopy Management is LONG TERM

Questions?