Bird control
Parrots are the most damaging pest to small and/or relatively isolated orchards. Most small landholders with only a few fruit trees will lose most, if not all of their fruit to parrots.
The Rainbow Lorikeet has also become a serious pest in some fruit growing areas where it can pose an even greater threat to crops than the twenty-eight and red cap parrots.
Some of the black cockatoo species that occur in WA can also cause significant damage to orchards but they are listed as threatened and cannot be shot or killed as a means of reducing damage to crops.
Bird control methods include:
- Exclusion netting - Although expensive (approximately $60,000/ha or more) this method may, depending on the netting used, also alleviate the effects of extreme weather events such as hail storms and hot temperatures (sunburn). When assessing the advantage of netting as a means of bird control, the percentage of crop loss as well as the time spent controlling birds by other methods must be taken into account.
- Bird scaring devices - Birds generally become accustomed to scaring devices and noise generators in the orchard and their effectiveness is quickly lost. Varying degrees of control can be obtained by swapping from one device to another and altering their location in the orchard. Contact your local government authority and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) prior to scaring birds as noise regulations will apply and permits may be required.
- Culling - Some species of birds can be controlled by culling under some circumstances. Contact DBCA prior to culling any birds to determine whether this method of control is appropriate and to obtain any required permits. If culling is permitted you may find the job of killing parrots an unpleasant chore and not one you would wish to continuously carry out.
Without netting, bird control is time consuming and requires a constant commitment to prevent crop damage. If you are fruit growing on a part-time basis, increased fruit losses from bird damage is to be expected when the orchard is left unattended.
It is too late to realise this when your trees are coming into their first crop and with all the setting-up and growing costs behind you this will be detrimental to the business.
Organics
Establishing and operating an organic orchard can be a difficult proposition if you are an inexperienced grower. In organic production, more emphasis is placed on integrated production systems for tree health and pest control because the range of chemical control options are limited.
Organic growing is more challenging and labour intensive and specialised skills and knowledge are required beyond those needed for conventional fruit growing.
Markets are expanding for organic fruit, but premiums paid for organically produced fruit might decrease as volumes supplied increase. The final outcome can be disappointing if the premium received is offset by higher input costs and/or lower yields and pack-out grades.
Full organic certification takes at least three years. Organic ‘in conversion’ status can be achieved after one year.