APAL/Pomewest Grower Dinners 2026
Duccio Migliorini of Murdoch University presenting the PHSB situation
This year, these events took place across three regions. At Tall Timbers, Manjimup, the Donnybrook Hotel, and The Vault in Kalamunda. We thank APAL for partnering with Pomewest to facilitate communication and networking events with growers across Western Australia. Once again, these evenings proved an excellent way to communicate, connect and learn about the latest industry research and extension work.
We thank our special guest speaker, Duccio Migliorini from Murdoch University, who presented the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer trial results. This helped our industry understand the important research underway to support management of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, which is endemic to Western Australia and currently transitioning to management status.
We appreciate WAARC and DPIRD support in helping industry communicate the impact of this upcoming biosecurity risk. For many, this was the first time they had heard this information.
Also, Jeremy Griffiths, newly appointed Industry Manager APAL, for updating growers on national viewpoints and work undertaken by APAL on behalf of Australian apple and pear growers.
“A follow-up article will be in the Pomewest Section of the Spring Edition of WA Grower out soon!”
At the Perth Hills at the Vault Restaurant
Jen Risely presenting her work on
In lieu of missing the trial site updates we were able to present the local information on the NOS project by Dario Stephanelli and Asad Ullah of DPIRD. Dario spoke about 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 spoke about 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 also from DPIRD presented the preliminary results from the SAAFE CRC project - improved management of apple scab in WA and Australian orchards. He focused on spore trapping to improve disease modelling accuracy in WA orchards and testing of scab isolates for fungicide resistance
Pomewest Project Officer Jen Riseley presented all the local WA trial work in the SW for the PIPS 4 Profit IPDM, Soil and Production Trials.