Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jun 05, 2017
 
 Tom O'Neil 
 
Tom is well qualified to do so. As General Manager of the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association   http://www.nfga.ca/ , his co-op members are interested to share and learn industry best practices.
 
   Tom O'Neil
 
The scope of best practices was not limited; but to name a few: R&D, horticulture, plants, insects, harvesting, quarantine, supply management and governmental regulation. Fruit farming is a significant economic contributor to Norfolk County and supply of Ontario apples and pears. So this topic presentation is of high interest to our Rotary Club members and community.
Tom spent one week in Melbourne meeting with and touring universities, the fruit growers’ association headquarters and national quarantine warehouses. Next, Tom’s team spent two weeks touring farm operations in the Shepparton/Goulburn Valley region area - about 160 kms north of Melbourne. Of the latter, from Tom’s Power Point presentation, the Rotarians, farmers and amenities looked similar to what we find in our rural district. Tom said that, the Rotary Clubs meet in the evening – work early – then meet after the heat of the day.
Tom highlighted some interesting observations. Although their climate is hot and dry, there are enough “chilling hours” to accommodate ranges of both citrus crops and apple crops in adjacent acreage. Irrigation is supplied from the Murray River watershed that starts toward the eastern coast.
In 2007, the Australian government decoupled water rights from land ownership. Generally the practice was implemented that existing land owners received water which they could keep on their land or trade, 30% was set aside for environmental use, if required (e.g., flood gum trees in a drought) and the rest of the water became a commercial commodity. The delivery systems are computer controlled. The farmer gives notice three days in advance, confirms the order one day before and the next day computer controls pump the allocated water through weirs into poly lined ditches and into the farmer’s field. Due to sufficient rain fall the system in Victoria currently has stored enough water in reserve for a season should it be needed.
The farmers use a migrant workforce – in their vernacular – “back-packers”. The government tried to institute a 35% tax on “back-pack” labour. It created an uproar and labour shortage! The government retreated and settled at 15%.
Of significant differences:
  • Kangaroos shelter from the sun in the orchards. Kangaroos are unpredictable. So caution is exercised when approaching in a vehicle. You never know which way they will jump!
  • Also every bakery, along the way, proclaims with signage e.g. Billy’s Bakehouse - “The Best Vanilla Slices”.
  • Of quarantine, Australia, over the decades, has suffered some severe industry losses due to “imported” diseases. Thus any animals, plants or root stocks are strictly quarantined to be sure no unwanted pests are introduced
Our Rotary District is international and includes Western New York. The team consisted of Fred Johnson – Westville, NY, Brian Kerry – Simcoe (apples), Torrie Warner – Beamsville (multiple fruits) and the Team Leader our Tom O’Neill – Waterford (NFGA).
A reciprocal vocational team is being planned by their New South Wale District 9790 to our area in 2017)
Story written by – Tim FitzGerald
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