Rombola Family Farms in Griffith, New South Wales, has become the second melon demonstration site for the Soil Wealth ICP project.
The farm produces rockmelons, watermelons and honeydew melons in the fertile Riverina region.
This demonstration site will focus on reducing plastic mulch and the effective management of fusarium. Their innovative approach involves growing a wheat crop and then terminating it through strip-till practices, which not only prevents erosion but also suppresses weeds.
The project team is currently engaging with melon growers in the Northern Territory (Katherine/Mataranka) and Queensland (Gumlu/Burdekin/Bundaberg) who may be interested in hosting the remaining two demonstration sites, ensuring a wide range of growers can benefit from the trials.
Pictured above: Rombola Farms in New South Wales. Image: Umberto Calvo.
Soil Wealth ICP on the road with melon industry
To learn even more about grower priorities, Umberto Calvo from the Soil Wealth ICP team participated in the 2023 Melons Australia roadshows.
In addition to concerns about plastic mulch, growers expressed interest in disease management, optimising fertiliser use, efficient water management, nutrient use efficiency, and pollinator management.
Participation in the roadshows also provided an opportunity to engage growers with the Soil Wealth ICP project and its objectives.
