SHE’S APPLES: NSW Department of Primary Industries extension horticulturalist Anne Mooney said low rainfall would not impact local fruit growers. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0928cropsfruit1
BELOW average rainfall over the past two months will have little impact on tree fruit in Orange.
NSW Department of Primary Industries Extension horticulturalist Anne Mooney said at the moment l cherry growers, apple growers, and vignerons were quite happy with the surface water.
“At the moment they’d probably like it to be nice and sunny because it’s flowering,” she said.
“We want lots of bee activity so we don’t want days of cloud.
“A bit of rain here and there is fine but as long as it clears up.”
She said the weekend’s cool change would have seen bee activity drop-off.
“That’s the major implication at this point of time,” she said.
“Blossom is a time when you can have diseases develop in the fruit so guys will be out there getting cover sprays on to protect newly opened blossoms.”
Ms Mooney said the low rainfall would not affect deciduous fruit growers as much as crop producers because they were irrigated.
“They know how to deal with it whereas the poor guys with a crop are totally reliant on mother nature,” she said.
“Our issue has been too much water over the last couple of years.
“There’s some [cherry growers] who have had three years without an income and that’s getting quite difficult.
“A good year for them would be lovely so that means no rain at Christmas.”