Queensland's Atherton Tablelands has observed a noticeable shift in agricultural practices, particularly among avocado growers. The region, once flourishing with avocado orchards, is witnessing the removal of thousands of trees. Local bulldozer operator, Greg Cummings, has been at the forefront of this change, having cleared between 8,000 and 10,000 trees. "It's a very heartbreaking thing," he commented on the task.
The decline in avocado farming is attributed to a combination of falling prices, rising costs, and market saturation. Ron Blundell, a Mareeba-based grower, is one such farmer who has decided to replace his avocado orchard with cattle, citing the crippling prices as a major factor. This sentiment is echoed across the region, with some landowners leaving their fields fallow, uncertain of the next steps.
However, not all is lost for the avocado industry in the Tablelands. Peter Howe, a prominent avocado grower, has only removed a fraction of his crop, mainly those affected by adverse weather conditions like Cyclone Jasper. Howe plans to diversify his farming operations by introducing banana cultivation in place of the removed avocado trees, although the majority of his avocado orchards will remain intact.
The industry's challenges are not isolated to Queensland. John Tyas, CEO of Avocados Australia, noted a significant increase in the planting area across North Queensland and nationwide, contributing to the current oversupply. The competition from Western Australia's Hass variety has also impacted the market for Queensland's Shepard avocados. Tyas highlighted the cyclical nature of the industry and the potential exacerbation of these issues in the coming years.
Efforts are now being directed towards establishing export markets, particularly in Asia, to absorb the surplus production. Despite the current downturn, the Australian avocado industry has seen remarkable growth in exports, a trend that stakeholders hope will continue as they seek to stabilize the market.
As for Cummings, the task of clearing avocado orchards has become routine, albeit still challenging due to the need to navigate around utility lines and deal with pests like wasps and bees. Despite the difficulties, he finds solace in the efficiency provided by modern machinery, a stark contrast to the manual methods of the past.
Source: ABC News