THE navel harvest in the Riverina is in full swing, and it's all hands on deck.
That includes Charlie Taunisila, 13, who was helping his parents pick fruit on the Battisel's farm near Griffith last month.
Frosts in the Riverina in the past fortnight have caused little concern to growers according to Riverina Citrus liasion officer Darren Gibbs.
"We have had frosts, but they haven't been severe," he said.
"Temperatures need to be well below zero for several hours before it causes damage to the fruit and we haven't seen this."
Precision crop walks
GRAIN growers have the opportunity to see the latest in precision agriculture at a series of crop walks next month.
The walks, organised by the Southern Precision Agricultural Association, feature variable-rate, zone-management and crop-scanning systems.
There will be a focus on nitrogen management and the use of crop sensing and imagery for post-emergent nitrogen applications.
Crop sensors will be on display to show how they work and the concept of nitrogen-rich strips will be explored.
Farmers will also speak about their experiences with precision agriculture.
The groups organising the walks are the Riverine Plains on August 11, Southern Farming Systems on August 12, Mallee Sustainable Farming on August 16 and the BCG (formerly Birchip Cropping Group) on August 19.
For further details, phone SPAA facilitator Sam Trengove on 0428 262 057.
Weather sessions
THE Bureau of Meteorology is offering three free information sessions for irrigators in northern Victoria this Thursday.
All three sessions will focus on the bureau's new services for delivering evapotranspiration data for use in irrigation scheduling.
They will explain evapotranspiration, additions to the service and how irrigators can use the information.
The sessions, on August 5, will run from noon to 1pm and 1.30pm to 2.30pm at the Department of Primary Industries, at Tatura, and from 8am to 9am at The Connection, between Shepparton and Mooroopna.
For further details, phone Sam Lolicato on (03) 5833 5226 or 0400 920 467.
