Geoff Chivers manages a 43 hectare macadamia orchard by himself through an integrated system balancing multiple components. He uses soil and leaf testing, a mix of early and late varieties, precision irrigation and nutrition, and monitoring of pests and diseases. Harvesting is matched to the drying capacity in his basic shed to maximize quality. Through openness to new ideas, professional advice, and balancing all parts of the system, he averages over 1.2 tons of kernel per hectare while keeping costs around $1 per kilogram.

1. Pest and Disease Management
Prepared by: Name…Chris Searle.
Title….Grower Liaison Suncoast Gold
Date….

2. Grower success story
Geoff Chivers

3. The
Geoff Chivers
Story
Building an integratedmanagement system

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Why Geoff Chivers?
 Manages 43ha - 14,000 tree orchard by himself – shed labour
 Averaged over 1.2 t/kernel/ha over last 4 years – up 1.6 t/k/ha
 Ranked number 8 in benchmarking for tons/kernel/ha last year
and number 3 for quality – bad year for tonnage
 Estimates cost of production around $1.00 per kilo NIS
 Nominated every year for State of Origin awards
 Either won or been in top three for quality at Suncoast Gold
 Chairman of Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (>$400 m)
 Married to Narelle and they have two talented sons

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Background
 Moved from Melbourne to Bundaberg 1985 to grow stone fruit
 Planted first macs in 1989 – mix 344/660/741 – 50% of farm
 All on sprinklers at start
 Second planting 1992/93 A16 (30%) and A4 (20%) of farm
 Orchard mainly on 8x 4 but two blocks 7x 4
 Moved whole farm to drip irrigation in 1992 – first to do so
 Soils are primarily yellow and red podzolics - limiting growth
 Flat farm

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Components of Geoff’s success
 Balanced system – all components are intermeshed - can’t
remove/alter one element without having impact on all others
Component One – an open and receptive mind
 “Fortune favours the prepared mind”
 Good solid farming background - knows the importance of
doing things right and on time - working hard for success
 Open to new ideas – values research, other ideas and opinions
 Early adopter of ideas and techniques - not overcapitalised
 Key message – open mind, seeks expert advice and timeliness

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Component 2 – varietal mix
 Time management – one man 14,000 trees – 43 ha
 Mix of varieties- 50% of farm is 344/741/660 – early/mid
season droppers, 20% A4 mid dropper,30% A16 mid/late
 Longer work season but greater capacity to manage more trees
 Spreads pest and disease spraying windows- do job properly –
as has time to treat each group as individuals
 Spreads harvest window – only harvesting one third of farm
 Matches daily harvest intake with drying front – maximising
quality

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Component 3 - Nutrition
Fully automated system

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Component 3 - Nutrition
 Four leaf and soil tests per year – since 1999 - long history
 Seeks professional advice – constantly changing nutrient input
 Mainly fertigation- little and often suits poor low retention soils
 Fertigates every weekend – cheap power
 Maximises uptake/nut production without stimulating growth
 Applies approx 120 kg N, 180kg K, 5kg B and 250-500kg/ha/yr
micro-fine gypsum through drip – quality
 Recently moved to dunder – cheap K and C - 12,500 litres week
 KEY Message – testing and professional tailored advice

10. Component 4 - Irrigation
• Two 8 L/hr drippers/tree
• 2.5-3 ML/ha/yr very efficient
• Minimal maintenance (cost)
• Uses monitoring equipment
• Minimises –drainage
• Minimises loss low skirts/mulch
• Power bill < house bill
• Fertigates at weekend -off peak
• Bought farms to get water
• Irrigator of year in 2000
Key Message - Scheduling
• Importance of water

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Component 5 - Canopy and orchard floor
Low skirts
min water loss
cool roots
retains mulch
Canopy height max - 6m
Approx 90% row width
Good light distribution
Low productive canopy
Hedged and limb
removal
Carpet Grass
inter-row

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Building block 5 - Canopy and orchard floor
• Low skirts
• Retain mulch/organic matter –
imp water and nutrient retention
• Puts up mulch from inter-row
after harvest using combinator
• Mulches in-situ under tree
• Cool environment, good biology
• Keeps nuts dry during harvest
Key messages
•Manages canopy height
•Manages orchard floor

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Component 6 - Pest and disease control
 Real copy will go here
• Monitored weekly - experienced
external person
• 2-3 sprays for husk spot – starts match
head
• Banana caterpillar – blow out mulch/
mulch /put back with combinator
• Average only half the farm sprayed for
spotting bug. Uses perimeter spraying
• One full Bulldock for nut borer
Christmas another mid to late Jan
• Excellent coverage – uses air-shear
• Tower reaches to top of trees
Key Messages Monitoring and
excellent coverage

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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
Matched system
Rate of harvesting equals
rate of drying front
Harvests at least every 3
weeks
Hasn’t over capitalised

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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
 Uses old John Deere with modified nut nabber
 Changed to mid sized wheels and Admac dehusker – mid sized
wheels allow head to pass under low skirts
 Harvests around 3 tons per day – when dry
 Waits for nuts to dry in field following rain
 Gets round within 3 weeks during peak of season
 Nuts stay relatively dry - canopy structure/ drip irrigation
nuts don’t get hot and cold – slow in-field drying

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Component 7 - Harvesting and drying
Basic shed
equipment. Two
open topped 20 ton
silos - no back
pressure
• 50cm nuts/day
• Very large shed –
supplies warm air
Key messages
•Warm air
• Rate of harvesting
approx equal speed
of drying front
• Excellent drying
Primary sort on
way in
Quick secondary
sort on way out

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Sorting innovations
Shed labour used to
cost around $12,00
year
Now all done by Geoff
and son
Roller table with
shadowless LED light
Stands at end of table
Long time to see defect
nut
Head/eye movement
movements left to right
– more natural

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Intermeshing and balanced system
 Change rate of harvesting from three to six tonnes/day
 Require larger wheels, lift skirts, more water loss, more water
power/required, less canopy, allow trees to grow taller to
compensate, poorer coverage, more insect damage, nut intake
faster than dying front, not enough warm air in shed, poss
decline in quality - result poss income loss and higher costs
 When making adjustments in your operation ensure there not
an exercise in bottleneck shifting and don’t create additional
problems

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Summary
 One man running 40 ha (14,000 trees) orchard – however
inputs from multiple people
 Monitored – soil and leaf analyses, water, pests and diseases
 Allows for and seeks professional input and discussion
 Understands how production elements are related
 Manages all components equally – balanced system
 Spends money where necessary but doesn't over capitalise
 Not afraid of new ideas
 Very profitable farming operation - around $1.00 kg costs