Fresh Thoughts

Horticulture and Irrigated Agriculture

Welcome

The 2026 season continues to present a mixed picture for Western Australia’s horticulture industry, with growers adapting to both challenging economic conditions and variable seasonal influences. Ongoing fuel and fertiliser supply pressures have prompted many producers to review their production expenses to manage rising input costs. While businesses have successfully adapted where possible, the sharp increase in production expenses continues to place significant financial pressure on the sector, with the full economic impact yet to be fully realised.

Seasonal conditions across the state remain highly variable. The August to October 2026 outlook indicates an increased likelihood of above-average rainfall across northern and central Western Australia, while below-average rainfall is expected for the South West. In the South West, exceptionally low rainfall during July has raised concerns for growers during the critical catchment period, with key horticultural regions such as Manjimup and Pemberton recording rainfall well below long-term averages. Winter chill accumulation is also tracking below average across the region, increasing the risk of delayed, uneven or incomplete spring flowering, which may create orchard management challenges and affect yields.

In contrast, conditions in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) remain favourable, with predominantly clear, warm days and low humidity supporting a productive 2026 cropping season. As growers continue to navigate a combination of climate variability and rising production costs, careful management and ongoing monitoring of seasonal conditions will remain critical to maintaining productivity and business resilience across the horticulture sector.

Exploring new rootstock options for Australian avocado industry

Expanding the avocado rootstock toolbox

What’s happening below the ground can have just as much impact on orchard performance as what’s happening above it.

Rootstocks play a critical role in avocado production, influencing everything from tree vigour and productivity to disease tolerance, water use efficiency and orchard longevity. In many ways, they are the foundation of a successful orchard.

Despite their importance, Australian growers have relatively few rootstock options available compared to other avocado-producing countries. International breeding programs in South Africa, the United States and Israel have developed new rootstocks with traits such as improved disease tolerance, greater resilience to environmental stress and more consistent productivity. However, access to these materials in Australia has been limited, and there is limited information available about how they might perform under Australian growing conditions.

To help address this gap, a two-year project, Avocado Rootstock Variety Access (AV25002), commenced in March 2026.

Funded by Hort Innovation, using the Avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government and DPIRD, the project aims to identify and assess avocado rootstock options from both Australia and overseas, helping build a stronger knowledge base for the industry.

Building a clearer picture

The project is creating a comprehensive database of avocado rootstocks, drawing on published research, industry surveys and collaboration with rootstock developers around the world.

Growers, nursery managers and researchers are contributing knowledge and experience to help identify the traits that matter most in different growing regions.

Importantly, the project recognises that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The challenges faced by avocado growers vary across Australia, meaning the ideal rootstock for one region may not be the best fit for another.

Looking beyond Australia's borders

A key focus of the project is identifying promising rootstocks that could benefit Australian growers in the future.

Potential candidates are being shortlisted based on their suitability for Australian conditions and the production challenges faced by growers. The project is also investigating pathways to access these materials through international partnerships and import processes.

While field trials are outside the scope of this project, the groundwork will be laid for future evaluation, ensuring the industry is well positioned to test promising rootstocks under Australian conditions.

Industry at the centre

An Industry Focused Research Group is guiding the project to ensure activities remain aligned with grower priorities and industry needs.

The project team is also working closely with researchers in Queensland and New South Wales to capture regional knowledge and share findings across Australia's avocado-growing regions.

Why it matters

This project is about giving growers more information and more options.
By improving access to knowledge about rootstocks currently available in Australia and from around the world, the industry will be better equipped to select planting material that supports productivity, resilience and long-term orchard performance.

Over time, greater access to elite rootstocks has the potential to improve orchard profitability, strengthen resilience to pests, diseases and environmental stresses, and help Australian avocado growers remain competitive in a changing production environment.

Turning surplus produce into opportunity

Approximately 22% of fruit and vegetables produced on Australian farms never make it to market. Produce may be left behind because it is the wrong size, shape or colour, has minor cosmetic damage, or because there is simply more available than the market can absorb. The result is lost income, wasted resources and unnecessary environmental impacts.
 

From surplus to solution

One promising solution is whole crop utilisation, which focuses on finding value-added uses for surplus or lower-grade produce rather than disposing of it. By converting fruit and vegetables into shelf-stable products such as dried slices, chips, powders and flours, growers can utilise up to 90% of their crop while creating new income opportunities.
 

Adding value through drying

Drying offers a range of benefits. It can extend shelf life to more than two years, significantly reduce storage and freight costs, eliminate the need for cold-chain logistics and help manage seasonal oversupply. Drying also preserves concentrated nutrients and bioactive compounds, creating opportunities for healthy snacks, functional foods and ingredient products that appeal to increasingly health-conscious consumers.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is actively working with industry to explore opportunities in whole crop utilisation. This includes investigating suitable drying technologies, identifying market opportunities, supporting product development and helping connect growers, researchers, food manufacturers and potential investors. DPIRD is also reviewing the advantages and limitations of a range of drying technologies to determine which options may be best suited to different products and production scales.

In Western Australia, infrastructure and market development remain key challenges. Large-scale drying facilities are limited, and further work is needed to develop commercial products and secure long-term buyers. However, facilities such as the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre provide an important platform for businesses to test concepts, develop pilot products and explore new processing opportunities.
 

A more sustainable future for horticulture

Whole crop utilisation is more than a waste reduction strategy. It presents an opportunity to improve farm profitability, strengthen regional industries, enhance food security and make better use of the resources already invested in production. As demand for convenient, nutritious and sustainable food products continues to grow, turning surplus produce into shelf-stable products could become an important part of the future of Western Australia's horticulture sector.

For more information contact Henry Brockman henry.brockman@dpird.wa.gov.au

Fly pollination trial extends

The latest fly pollination project, funded by Hort Innovation, is gearing up for a big season of trials across Australia testing out 4 species of fly on avocado and apple crops.  Earlier this month a mobile lab touched ground to be set up as a fly rearing lab to produce 100,000 flies for pollination of avocados and apples. Three fly species will be tested and reared, optimised to pollinate 30 enclosed Hass avocado trees in Capel and Busselton and apples under netting in Manjimup.  Flies are efficient pollinators and have perfectly adapted to pollinate a number of crops. Working with flies can overcome challenges when pollination needs to occur in trees that are under netting and in polytunnels. Previously the team has shown the efficiency of these flies in avocados and blueberries, with this new project also introducing apples to the trials.

L-R: An adult Eristalis tenax hover fly – common name is the drone fly because of their similarity to bees.
An Eristalis tenax female laying eggs on the edge of a manure slurry

L-R:  The netted enclosures around avocado trees during flowering at an avocado orchard in Pemberton (November, 2025)
An Eristalis tenax adult feeding on an avocado flower

At peak production, the new facility will be capable of rearing up to one million flies from three key species: one hover fly ( Eristalis tenax ) and two blowflies (Calliphora dubia and Calliphora vicina). These flies will be used in trials throughout Western Australia and supplied to other research sites in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. All three species are commonly found across Australia. 

In our first trials on apples in the south-west of WA the hover fly E. tenax  will be tested to compare at three different stocking densities for optimal pollination efficiency.  Insect proof enclosures containing 7 apple trees will be used, and both the king flowers (the large central flowers in each blossom cluster) and lateral flowers (the smaller flowers surrounding them) will be monitored through to fruit set and fruit yield.    

PSHB management workshops

DPIRD staff and growers in the Perth region are invited to attend upcoming Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) management workshops to support effective, long‑term management and help reduce the risk of spread. These workshops will be delivered by DPIRD’s Capacity Building and Training team as part of the transition to management following the national biosecurity response.

Workshop details

Perth | Wednesday 26 August | In-person and online *
Location: 9 Modal Crescent, Canning Vale (DPIRD facility)
Time: 9 am to 11 am

Albany | Thursday 10 September | In-person and online
Location: 444 Albany Highway, Albany (DPIRD facility)
Time: 9 am to 11 am

Geraldton | Tuesday 22 September | In-person and online
Location: 20 Gregory St, Geraldton (DPIRD facility)
Time: 9 am to 11 am

What you’ll learn

• Management Planning

• Prevention & Risk Reduction

• Treatment & Disposal

• Surveillance & Data Capture

• Native & Exotic Hosts

• Sampling & Diagnostics

*The Workshop in Perth will have an added option of having a 45 min field trip to an Infested Premise.

If you are interested in these workshops and receiving updates on PSHB please subscribe here.

Growing knowledge, growing avocados

WA avocado regional forum

DPIRD horticulture researchers showcased their expertise at the recent WA Avocado Regional Forum in Manjimup, engaging with around 70 growers and industry stakeholders on opportunities to improve productivity, fruit quality and market growth.

The annual forum, organised by Research Scientist Rachelle Johnstone, brought together growers, researchers and industry representatives to share the latest knowledge and discuss opportunities and challenges facing the avocado sector.

DPIRD researchers Dario Stefanelli and Declan McCauley presented findings from the Growing Robust Avocados project, highlighting how orchard nutrition management, particularly calcium, can improve postharvest fruit quality. Growers also gained practical insights from WA-based orchard trials.

Entomologist David Cook shared strategies to support pollination in avocado orchards and provided an update on research investigating the use of commercially reared flies as effective pollinators for horticulture crops.

The forum also featured market and export updates from Avocados Australia, with discussions focused on how export development can support the industry's long-term growth.

Feedback from attendees demonstrated the value of the event, with most growers indicating they planned to refine their nutrition management practices and explore ways to improve fruit set and pollination in their orchards.

Pictured: DPIRD staff Rachelle Johnstone, Asad Ullah, David Cook, Shoaib Tufail, Declan McCauley, Sang Ravindran, Dario Stefanelli and Amit Khanal at the WA Avocado Regional Forum in Manjimup.

Apples for the Future field day

More than 30 growers recently attended DPIRD’s Apples for the Future field day at the Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute, where researchers shared the latest findings from the Narrow Orchard Systems for Future Climates project.

The field day gave growers an opportunity to tour DPIRD’s Narrow Orchard Systems research site and learn how innovative orchard designs could help improve productivity, fruit quality and business resilience.

Research Scientist Asad Ullah presented early results from the five-year project, which is investigating multi-leader 2D ‘fruiting wall’ systems designed to improve light penetration, airflow and canopy management while making orchards easier to maintain and harvest.

The research has already highlighted the important role rootstocks play in early tree growth and canopy development, with researchers continuing to track tree performance across growing seasons to refine management strategies.

While the Manjimup trial focuses on apples, the learnings are expected to benefit a range of horticultural industries, including cherries, plums and apricots. Growers also heard about national and international research trials, economic analyses of narrow orchard systems, and emerging ag-tech solutions designed to improve orchard efficiency.

The field day showcased DPIRD's ongoing commitment to delivering practical research that supports more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient horticulture businesses across Western Australia.

Apples for the Future field day

A full-capacity audience of 100 growers, researchers, industry representatives and stakeholders gathered in Bunbury during Science Week for this year's Horticulture Science Forum, demonstrating the strong appetite across Western Australia's horticulture sector for research, innovation and industry collaboration.

Delivered through a collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC), the forum provided a valuable opportunity to connect cutting-edge research with industry priorities and grower needs.

The event featured 26 researchers, each presenting a five-minute snapshot of their work. The fast-paced format gave attendees a broad overview of research projects underway across the horticulture sector, showcasing innovations, emerging technologies and practical solutions aimed at improving productivity, sustainability and profitability.

From orchard and crop management to biosecurity, environmental sustainability and future industry opportunities, the presentations highlighted the depth and diversity of research being undertaken to support Western Australian horticulture.

A key feature of the forum was a panel discussion featuring industry development leaders and grower representatives. The panel was led by Bronwyn Walsh from WA Citrus and included Nardia Stacey from Pomewest, Kathryn Young from Hort Innovation, and Mark Scott, grower and Western Australian Director of Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL).

Drawing on their extensive industry experience, the panellists shared insights into current challenges, emerging opportunities and research priorities across the sector. Discussion centred on ensuring research investment remains aligned with industry needs and that research outcomes are effectively translated into practical on-farm benefits.

Beyond the presentations, the forum created opportunities for networking, discussion and collaboration between researchers, growers and industry organisations. The exchange of ideas throughout the day reinforced the value of strong partnerships in driving innovation and supporting the long-term sustainability of Western Australia's horticulture industries.

The enthusiastic response to the event reflects a growing demand for opportunities that bring research and industry together. By connecting those generating new knowledge with those applying it in the field, the Horticulture Science Forum is helping strengthen relationships, spark new ideas and support informed decision-making across the sector.

With attendees leaving equipped with fresh insights, new connections and a greater understanding of the research shaping the future of horticulture, the success of this year's inaugural forum has further highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving industry growth and resilience.

Pictured: Nardia Stacy, Mark Scott, Kathryn Young, Bronwyn Walsh, Vicki McCallister

WA Grower Magazine

Important disclaimer 
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. If you have any questions, or require further information please email horticulture@dpird.wa.gov.au

Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2026.