04 Jul 2017 Country News insert, Shepparton VIC (General News) by Jenna Bishop An innovative trial and research project in Cobram aims to help local fruit growers increase their crop yields by increasing the chill accumulation in trees. The feasibility study will determine if spraying cherry, apple and almond trees with calcium carbonate at leaf fall increases winter chill accumulation by reflecting heat from the fruit buds in winter. The project, run by Insense, received a $49 000 boost from the Victorian Governments Horticulture Innovation Fund, announced by Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford in State Parliament recently. InSenses Russell Fox said the trial was based on a similar substance which helped protect trees in hot summer months. We do a calcium carbonate product in the summer to protect the fruit, which reflects the sun rays and UV rays off the fruit, Mr Fox said. We know climate change is having an effect on the weather, so this trial will investigate how to help counteract that and lock in the chill for the fruit. The trial ran last year on three different local orchards, and is currently focused on cherry, almond and apple crops. Mr Fox said all three varieties relied on chill periods during winter for the trees to bud properly in spring. The trial will be a calcium carbonate product, sprayed on the trees at leaf fall or just before, to help the trees seal in the winter chill, he said. Well be monitoring the effect it has in the spring, from the first bud burst right through to harvest. Well also be looking at the yield in both quality and quantity to see what effect it has on the overall crop and how we can maximise that for farmers. In previous years, winters have been milder, and Mr Fox said the calcium carbonate spray could help trees maximise the cooler temperatures in a changing climate. He said as well as chill periods, trees then required warmer spring temperatures, and this study would also be investigating the two temperature phases. The trial will also test temperatures in different blocks across the three orchards. Mr Fox said the funding was a great opportunity to continue the trial and study in the next two years to determine if it could be used on a wider scale. I really appreciate the funding from the Horticulture Innovation Fund, it will allow me to continue to conduct the study and its created a great opportunity. Ms Pulford said the Horticulture Innovation Fund supported businesses to innovate and work with researchers to test and adapt new technologies to local conditions. This is great news for the Goulburn Valley and will boost our surging horticulture exports even further, she said. Victoria accounts for more than half of Australias horticulture exports and investing in this sector will help safeguard it for the future. State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the feasibility study by InSense would be a driver in increasing the productivity of cherry, apple and almond trees, and in turn, future-proofing them against the effects of climate change. Caption Text: Chill out . . . InSenses Russell Fox is hoping his study, which received Victorian Government funding, will help determine if a calcium carbonate spray can lock in much-needed winter chill for local orchards. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.