Netting Trial

CT07020 - Citrus Netting for Improved Fruit Quality and Demonstration Sites

A Riverina CITTgroup study tour to the Murray Valley citrus region in May 2006 was the basis of a netting project in the Riveirn being established.

Under the project specialised netting has been erected in two sites, one in Griffith over mature trees, and the other in Leeton over young trees.

By having demonstration sites, growers are able to view first hand the differences that are anticipated, including a cost/denefit analysis. Hearing, reading and viewing the results provides for greater uptake of the information.

Now in the closing stages of the project, growers have been able to see a number of benefits gained by using the netting, in particular, during fierce hail storms that occured in the Leeton region in December 2009.

Packout figures for the Leetong site have been encouraging, with the fruit being harvested in March/April 2010, and once put through the grader receiving a 99% packout. Although the trees are still not classed as bearing, six bins were harvested.

As the demonstration is over Late Lane Navels in on the Griffith site, harvesting is scheduled for later in the year.

A benefit/cost analysis will be conducted prior to the completion of the project.

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