Expressions of Interest, ABA Irrigation and Nutrition Workshops

The Almond Board of Australia is seeking expressions of interest for a series of practical irrigation and nutrition workshops across Australia’s almond growing regions.

Select your growing region and the workshops you would be interested in attending. You may nominate more than one workshop.

Submitting this form is an expression of interest only and does not confirm your place at an event. The ABA will monitor responses for each workshop and region. Once sufficient interest has been received, the ABA will confirm the workshop date, location and program. People who have submitted an expression of interest will be contacted first and invited to complete their registration.

This approach will help the ABA deliver workshops where there is sufficient local demand and tailor the content to the needs and challenges identified by participants.

The workshops are intended for almond growers, owner operators, farm managers, irrigation managers, agronomists, technical staff and orchard staff.

Workshop options

Almond Skills Irrigation Workshop

A practical introduction to the principles of efficient almond irrigation management. The workshop combines theory and field activities covering soil characteristics, irrigation system design, application rates, pressure and emitter testing, system maintenance, irrigation scheduling and soil moisture monitoring. It is suitable for new staff, people wanting to strengthen their irrigation knowledge and experienced staff seeking a refresher.

Interpreting Soil Moisture Workshop

Build confidence in interpreting soil moisture monitoring data and using it to make irrigation decisions. Participants will explore soil water principles, soil moisture graphs, root zone activity, refill and full points, irrigation responses and the influence of soil type and irrigation design. The workshop will use practical examples to help participants decide when to irrigate, how much water to apply and how to recognise under or over watering.

Managing Wet Spots and Irrigation System Drainage Workshop

Learn how to identify, measure and manage persistent wet areas caused by irrigation system drainage. The workshop will examine drainage following system shutdown, orchard topography, soil characteristics, dripline and submain design, valve locations, flushing arrangements and potential remediation options. Practical demonstrations and case studies will help participants assess the scale of a problem and consider site specific solutions.

Almond Skills Nutrition Workshop

Develop a stronger understanding of almond nutrient requirements and how to build an effective nutrition program. Topics include tree phenology, macro and micronutrients, nutrient interactions, deficiency and toxicity symptoms, fertiliser types and formulations, application timing, fertigation, nutrient stewardship and biostimulants. The workshop combines technical information with practical activities and grower experience.