1. Young Tree
Canopy
Management

2. Maccmanagement Pty Ltd
3 farms managed in the Bundaberg region
Company started in 2005 first trees planted in June
2006
2 Orchards developed from scratch – originally Sugar
cane and small crop farms
Majority of trees planted in 2007, first crop in 2010 with
this years crop approximately 200tn

3. 40,125 trees planted at 8 x 4
Varieties include: 816, A203,741,660,Daddow,344,246,A268
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 3

4. Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 4

5. 32,375 trees planted at 8 x 4
Varieties include: 816,741,Daddow,A16
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 5

6. Farm Prep and Planting
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 6

7. Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 7

8. Hand Pruning Young Trees
• Primary purpose on
Main Structure based is
a central leader
to develop a strong
• Strong lateral branches
well balanced
• Narrow crotch angles
framework for future
removed
growth
• Less prone to wind
damage
• More open tree at
maturity
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 8

9. Narrow Crutch Angle
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 9

10. Inward growing branches
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 10

11. Hand Pruning Young Trees
• Manual work carried out
with secateurs
• Average cost to prune
(Young trees sub 2 year
age) $0.12 per tree per
round
• Good worker doing 120
to 140 trees per hour or
1000 trees per day
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 11

12. Hand Pruning Young Trees - The good
• Effective in reducing wind
damage to young trees
• Good structure formed
and held in some
varieties – 741, 660, 344
and 246
• More open tree reduced
pest pressure – Twig
Girdler
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 12

13. Hand Pruning Young Trees - The bad
• Reduction in early yields when
compared with other methods
• Hard to source required volume
of labour – job requires training
• Lack of labour meant frequency
of pruning over 75000 trees
was not high enough and led to
too much foliage being
removed each round slowing
tree growth
• Some varieties just not suited –
A203
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 13

14. Mechanical Pruning
• To promote branching and increase early yield
• To control canopy size to minimise wind damage
• Skirting of trees to allow access for harvesting
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 14

15. Mechanical Pruning
• F.A.M.A. 3 bladed pruner used
• Cuts skirt, side and top at same
time. Two passes per tree
• Average cost $0.20 per tree
(Includes depreciation and
direct costs)
• Approx. 200 trees per hour
average
• Pruned at an interval to promote
branching every 30cm
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 15

16. Mechanical Pruning - The Good
• Effective protection from wind damage
• Increased yield in year 3,4 and 5
• Low capital cost – pruner sits on old tractor and is used
whenever time allows
• Atypical tree shape maintained by pruning to point.
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 16

17. Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 17

18. Mechanical Pruning - The Bad
• Low tractor speed, two
passes per tree
• Increased density of
trees as they mature
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 18

19. Conclusions
Hand Pruning Mechanical Pruning
- Effective on some - Relatively fast and cheap
varieties
- Increased early yields
- Hard to source
competent labour on a
large scale
Friday, September 28, 2012 Scott Norval 19