Time: 9.30am–1.00pm

Where: Starting at Salters Orchard, R&R Smith, 451 North Huon Rd, Ranelagh, for an orchard walk & discussion through the IPM conservation biological control research site.

Continuing at Hansen Orchards, Grove, for an orchard walk & discussion through the renovated planar canopy training systems research site.

To conclude the day there will be an in-room crop load management presentations and panel.

PIPS researchers, together with local growers, will update on R&D developments and the emerging production, economic and sustainability implications for the Tasmanian apple industry:

• 2-D orchard renovation trials

• Thinning decisions and chemical strategies

• Crop predictions and management decisions using remote sensing

• Labour efficiency technologies

• Integrated pest management: conservation biological control and parasitoid strategies for key pests.

• Thinning R&D panel: grower, researcher & commercial discussion on strategy developments for local conditions are we getting the results?

Lunch is included.

Facilitated by Nigel Swarts - come with the questions that matter to your business.

For any questions, please contact Marguerite White - TIA Horticulture Industry Lead - Phone/ text: 0447 500 415 or email

Join the team:

Dr Ramandeep Singh Sidhu, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Evaluating the benefits and challenges of renovating using multi-leader training systems

Ramandeep is a Tree Crop Physiologist and will discuss, along with PhD student Trong Hieu Do, orchard renovation research being undertaken through the PIPS 4 Profit Program’s Optimising Apple Production Systems project. This study at Hansen Orchards focuses on renovation strategies using multi-leader canopy systems. It is evaluating impacts on light interception, fruit quality, yield, and labour efficiency, while providing a practical pathway toward 2D fruiting wall systems. By reducing labour inputs and improving orchard performance, the approach aims to deliver economic benefits for established orchards.

Optimising chemical thinning programs using new blossom and post-bloom thinners

Ramandeep will present on trials investigating new blossom and post-bloom chemical thinning programs. The research is evaluating the effectiveness of emerging thinning products and strategies to improve crop load management, fruit size, colour, fruit quality and orchard profitability while reducing the cost of hand thinning. Focus will be on early findings from local Gala apple trials.

Dr Leticia Reis, Tree Crop Physiologist, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Crop load and chemical thinning strategies in Tasmania

Tree crop physiologist, Leticia, will present on two-year results from a trial being conducted at Montague Farms in Legana, supported by orchard manager Rod Hogan. This trial is focussing on ACC and metamitron applied at different rates and timings. The research is evaluating their effects on fruit set, crop load,

fruit size, and the potential of reduced hand thinning. The RIMpro and BreviSmart platforms are also being assessed locally in their capabilities to support thinning decisions.

Dr Alessio Scalissi, Agriculture Victoria

Spatial and temporal management of the orchard

Alessio will present the latest PIPS 4 Profit Victorian-based research on smarter apple orchard management. How can better orchard data deliver better apples with less labour? Using Green Atlas Cartographer technology and labour‑efficiency tools tested at Tatura SmartFarm, the work shows how managing orchards in space and time can orchard and economic performance. The focus is on improving fruit colour, size and crop load while reducing reliance on inefficient labour practices.

Dr Jon Finch, Entomologist, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Integrated pest and disease management

Jon will discuss techniques for enhancing biological control in Tasmania apple orchards. This includes an update on the work of the PIPS 4 Profit TIA entomology team to establish a population of the codling moth parasitoid, Mastrus ridens as part of a PhD study led by Shiva Shankar Bhattarai. In addition, Jon will discuss trials to evaluate the use of native flowering plants to promote beneficial invertebrates in apple production systems, including spiders, ground beetles and earwigs.

Jack Bartels, Commercial Manager, Sumitomo Chemical Australia.

Growing up locally on an apple farm, Jack has worked closely with growers across Australia & New Zealand. He specialises in plant growth regulators, chemical thinning, and horticultural crop management. Jack will join the discussions on developing more sustainable and profitable thinning programs. Sumitomo has been partnering with the research trial at Legana.

Nigel Swarts, Horticulture Centre Leader, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

A national approach to sustainable soils and apple production systems R&D.

Nigel is the head of Horticulture at TIA and leads the apple production systems and sustainable soils projects for the PIPS 4 Profit program. He will facilitate the day, including a panel comprised of researchers, industry advisors and local growers on: Are new thinning technologies and strategies delivering the simplicity and effectiveness needed to reduce inputs and maximise economic benefits for Tasmanian apple orchards?

This event is supported by the partnerships of the PIPS 4 Profit program and Fruit Growers Tasmania.

Contact the host of PIPS 4 Profit Researcher Roadshow