The apple and pear industry’s R&D program, PIPS 4 Profit, and the Narrow Orchard Systems (NOS) project are partnering to deliver a research, development & technology update for the pome growers of WA!
NOS Manjimup trial progress update
Building a healthy soil using amendments in perennial temperate tree crops.
Crop load and chemical thinning strategies in apples.
The economics of thinning strategies in pears and apples
Developing a native parasitoid for biological control of fruit fly in WA
Improved management of apple scab.
Labour efficiency technologies
This event is supported by the partnerships of the PIPS 4 Profit program, Narrow Orchard Systems project and Pomewest.
Join Us
Jen Riseley, Pomewest, Manjimup -PIPS 4 Profit - WA regional sustainable soils, productivity and IPDM trials
Jen will provide an update on the WA regional PIPS 4 Profit trial sites and trends so far. In January 2026 a biological control was introduced into Donnybrook to parasitise Medfly, perennial soil treatments to improve soil carbon and soil health in Manjimup are the second year, and orchard renovation studies in Pemberton and Kirup each tell a story of orchard economics.
Dario Stefanelli, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Manjimup -Narrow Orchard Systems in Practice
Dario will provide an update on the Western Australian component of the NOS project focusing on Ag-Tech, including an autonomous sprayer, an electric orchard management platform and monitoring data management. The project is also exploring orchard management APPs including a crop load calculator.
Asad Ullah, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Manjimup - Narrow Orchard Systems in Practice
Asad will provide an update on the Western Australian component of the NOS project including the 2-year performance of various cultivar × rootstock combinations trained on multileader cordon system in narrow row configuration. The trial is evaluating suitability of cultivar and rootstock to NOS, training and management requirements (i.e., materials & labour) and productivity to provide a complete package to growers coupled with economic analysis.
Andrew Taylor, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Bunbury -Improved management of apple scab
Andrew will present preliminary results from the SAAFE CRC project - improved management of apple scab in WA and Australian orchards. Information will be presented on spore trapping to improve disease modelling accuracy in WA orchards and testing of scab isolates for fungicide resistance
Leticia Reis, Tree Crop Physiologist, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture - PIPS 4 Profit- Crop load and chemical thinning strategies
Tree crop physiologist, Leticia, will present first-year results from a trial being conducted at Montague Farms in north-east Tasmania. This trial focussed 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 in their capabilities to support thinning decisions.
Kerry Stott, Agricultural Economist, Agriculture Victoria -PIPS 4 Profit- Economics of thinning strategies
Kerry will apply an economic lens to thinning trials at Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm. She will show the most profitable ASE and chemical thinning treatments were not necessarily those carrying the biggest crop, and variable thinning in apples aimed at achieving the “sweet spot” improves returns.
Nigel Swarts, Horticulture Centre Leader, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture -PIPS 4 Profit- 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 discuss findings and learnings from both a national and regional perspective across components of the project being conducted in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, WA and SA.
