REGISTER NOW EARLY BIRD CLOSES
30 SEPTEMBER 2007


The ABA is pleased to present this year's Australian Almond Conference at the
Mildura Grand Hotel on 1 & 2 November 2007
This annual conference is a major event for the Australian Almond industry, bringing together delegates representing almond growers, processors, marketers, researchers, nurseries and other industry suppliers and service providers.

Succeeding in a challenging environment is the major focus of the conference for 2007. The two-day conference will include key topics such as water, pollination, skilled labour, plant improvement, risk management, profitability and international competitiveness, marketing and updates from overseas study tours. The conference will also include the Annual Levy Payers' Meeting and the Annual General Meeting of the ABA.

Download Conference Program
File name: ALMOND_BROCHURE.pdf
File size: 2.4MB
File type: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
Please note that the program is subject to change.

Program Outline
Wednesday, 31st October
6:00pm   Welcome Reception, Theatre Club, Mildura Brewery Pub


Thursday, 1st November
8:00am   Registration Opens   Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:40am 9:15am Official Conference Opening John Bird - ABA Chairman & Cr Vernon Knight, Deputy Mayor, Mildura Rural City Council Grand Ballroom
9:15am 10:00am Global Economic Overview Tony Pearson, Senior Economics, ANZ Session Chair: John Bird
10:00am 10:30am Economic Analysis of Almond Growing (CD Launch) David Pocock - Rural Solutions SA  
10:30am 11:00am MORNING TEA & TRADE EXHIBITION    
11:00am 11:45am Californian Almond Industry Overview Joe MacIlvaine - President, Paramount Farming Company Grand Ballroom
11:45am 12:15pm Understanding the Australian Almond Consumer Joseph Ebbage - ABA Marketing Program Manager Session Chair: Brenton Woolston
12:15pm 1:15pm LUNCH & TRADE EXHIBITION    
1:15pm 3:00pm Annual Levy Payers Meeting (ALPM)   Grand Ballroom
   
  • HAL Report
Ross Skinner - HAL Industry Services Manager Session Chair: Jim Pierson
   
  • CT Trial Update & Results 2007
John Kennedy - ABA Technical Officer  
   
  • Economic Analysis of CT Trial
David Pocock - Rural Solutions SA  
   
  • Extension Program Update
Ben Brown - Almond Industry Liaison Manager  
3:00pm 3:30pm AFTERNOON TEA & TRADE EXHIBITION    
3:30pm 4:15pm Concurrent Workshops: Session 1    
3.30pm 3.45pm Economic Analysis & Benchmarking Workshop David Pocock - PIRSA Rural Solutions Maria's Room
3.45pm 4.00pm Growsmart Careers in Science Peter Haines - Growsmart Donata's Room
4.00pm 4.15pm Pest & Disease Workshop Peter Magarey / Lucy Pumpa / Ben Brown Chandelier Room
4:15pm 5:00pm Concurrent Workshops: Session 2    
4.15pm 4.30pm Economic Analysis & Benchmarking Workshop David Pocock - Rural Solutions SA Maria's Room
4.30pm 4.45pm Growsmart Careers in Science Peter Haines - Growsmart Donata's Room
4.45pm 5.00pm Pest & Disease Workshop Peter Magarey / Lucy Pumpa / Ben Brown Chandelier Room
6.00pm 11.00pm Annual Almond Conference Dinner - proudly sponsored by Netafim Australia  
   
  • Pre-Dinner Drinks
  Rose Garden
   
  • Netafim & Israel Tour Presentation
Adam Lean - Netafim & Paul Martin
Grand Ballroom
   
  • Dinner Speaker
Max Walker MC Bruce McDougall


Friday, 2nd November    
7:30am   Breakfast Session   Grand Ballroom
8:00am 8:30am European Study Tour Update Ben Brown, Neale Bennett & Tony Spiers Grand Ballroom
8:30am 9:00am Australian Almond Industry Overview Julie Haslett - ABA CEO Session Chair: Stephen Lynch
9:00am 9:30am Almond Marketing Program Highlights Joseph Ebbage - ABA Marketing Program Manager & Clare Smith - Admark  
9:30am 10:00am MORNING TEA & TRADE EXHIBITION    
10:00am 10:30am Growing Almonds with Poor Quality Water Tapas Biswas & Tim Pitt - SARDI Water Resources & Irrigated Crops Grand Ballroom
10:30am 10:45pm SARDI Drought Project Mark Skewes - SARDI Drought Response Team Session Chair: Richard Smart
10:45pm 12:00pm ABA Annual General Meeting John Bird - ABA Chairman & Julie Haslett - ABA CEO
12:00pm 12:45pm LUNCH & TRADE EXHIBITION    
12:45pm 1:15pm Murray Darling Basin Update David Dreverman - Murray Darling Basin Commission Grand Ballroom
1:15pm 2:15pm Plant Improvement - Forum Session - Proudly sponsored by Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd Session Chair: Neil Bennett
   
  • Breeding Program
Michelle Wirthensohn - University of Adelaide
   
  • Nursery & Propagation Review
Prue McMichael - Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services
   
  • GF677 Availability
Alan Saunders - Boulevard Nurseries
2:15pm 2:45pm AFTERNOON TEA & TRADE EXHIBITION    
2:45pm 3:45pm Pollination - Forum Session - Proudly sponsored by Laragon Pty Ltd Grand Ballroom
  • Bee Industry Outlook
Trevor Monson - Monson's Honey Session Chair: Neil Bennett
3:45pm 4:00pm Conference Close John Bird - ABA Chairman