Canopy management in action: Avocado workshop at Comboyne
Central New South Wales avocado growers recently had the opportunity to get hands-on in a canopy management workshop held in Comboyne at McMillan farming.
The workshop formed part of the Avocado Extension Project, an industry initiative led by Queensland Department of Primary Industries and in collaboration with Avocados Australia. The session was tailored to equip growers with practical, ready-to-apply strategies they can implement immediately within their own operations.
The Comboyne event was coordinated by Central New South Wales Regional Lead, Isabella Ellmers (AHR), and delivered by Dr Chris Searle of MacAvo Consulting, bringing together local expertise and industry insight to support on-farm success.
The workshop opened with an overview into avocado tree physiology and canopy management principles, led by Dr Chris Searle of MacAvo Consulting. Setting the biological foundation for smarter decision-making, Dr Searle unpacked how canopy structure directly influences light interception, fruit set, yield consistency, and overall tree longevity. By connecting science with on-ground realities, he demonstrated why effective canopy management is one of the most powerful tools available to growers.
Participants explored a range of pruning strategies and machinery options, learning where each approach is most effective. The discussion highlighted the role of out-of-season pruning as a valuable tool for rehabilitating stressed or underperforming trees. Emphasis was placed on long-term, holistic orchard planning - ensuring that every intervention contributes to maintaining tree balance to optimise productivity.
The workshop then moved from theory to practice, with participants heading into the orchard to assess real-world examples. Together, they evaluated which canopy strategies had delivered strong outcomes, identified practices that were less effective, and worked through practical solutions tailored to local growing conditions.
This workshop reinforced the value of understanding tree physiology as the foundation for strategic canopy management and highlighted the benefits of proactive, well-timed interventions in supporting sustainable orchard performance.
“What makes workshops like this so valuable is the connection between science and practice. When growers understand the ‘why’ behind canopy management decisions, they can make more confident choices in their own orchards,” Isabella Ellmers said.
We gratefully acknowledge Josh McMillan from McMillan Farming for hosting this workshop and for his support in bringing growers together.
Funding statement:
The avocado industry development and extension project (AV23010) has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy, co-investment from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Western Australian Government Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
