Economics and management of fruitgrowing

Abstract

Fruitgrowers in this country have the reputation of being efficient producers, strong supporters of research and keen appliers of information arising from research. That so many of you are here for this special course provides further evidence of your progressive outlook and we are pleased to be able to provide such a comprehensive range of topics by outstanding speakers. In this we are happy to acknowledge the assistance freely given by members of the staff of State Departments and other organisations and by private growers. This course is timely for we are entering a particularly dynamic phase in all our primary industries, including yours, when opportunities and rewards will be open to those growers who attain a high level of efficiency in production, handling and marketing. Over the next few years you are going to hear more, much more, of diversification in crops and products, mechanisation, processing, presentation and marketing than you have in the past. This College is deeply interested in these aspects and we hope that through our efforts and those of our colleagues you will be provided with sound guidance. Mind you there's a price to be paid in that the future will certainly be more favourable to the efficient large unit than to the small unit and in this connection I hope that the restraints on aggregation of land will be removed. Perhaps I can best make my point by referring to the poultry industry the changes in which over the past few years will certainly be paralleled in the fruit industry over the next decade. Your job is to see that you are among the leaders in these changes and I hope that you will pick up at this course some ideas to help you on your way to satisfaction and to the top bracket in net returns per acre.