What an incredible two days we had with Professor Louise Ferguson, Dr Giulia Marino, and David R. Haviland from UC Davis!

The PGAI Pistachio Production Short Course brought together 99 attendees (79 grower members and 20 associate members) for two days of world-class learning at the Mildura Rowing Club on December 3rd and 4th. The energy, engagement, and collaborative spirit throughout the event made it truly special.

A Collective Success

This event’s success was thanks to every single person who attended, asked thoughtful questions, shared their experiences, and contributed to the discussions. The Australian pistachio industry continues to demonstrate its strength through this kind of collective learning and knowledge sharing. Thank you for making this such a valuable experience for everyone involved.

By the Numbers

• 99 attendees at the 2-day Short Course (79 grower members, 20 associate members)
• 68 growers at the Wednesday night networking dinner at 400 Gradi
• 43 participants on the Friday field trip to Robinvale
• 100% of survey respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with networking opportunities
• Overwhelmingly positive feedback on content quality, presenter expertise, and value for money

What Growers Valued Most

• Canopy management – The standout topic, with mechanical pruning and alternate bearing strategies highly valued by 93% of respondents
• Nutrition management – Both macro and micronutrient strategies ranked as top priority by 90% of attendees
• Irrigation management – Advanced monitoring techniques and water use efficiency strategies valued by 83%
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Practical strategies for beetles, worms, and bugs tailored to Australian conditions
• Direct access to expertise – Learning from the team behind the Pistachio Production Manual and getting answers to specific orchard challenges
• Rare opportunity – Professor Ferguson’s upcoming retirement in mid-2026 made this particularly special

Beyond the Classroom

• Wednesday night dinner provided relaxed networking and continued conversations with UC Davis experts, with food quality consistently praised
• Friday field trip to Robinvale showcased research principles in action at CMV Farms and APPC Processing Plant
• Practical takeaways growers can implement immediately in their own orchards

Key Takeaways & Implementation

Growers walked away with actionable knowledge they’re ready to implement:

• Canopy management and pruning techniques – The top implementation priority for many attendees
• Moving from date-based to data-based management – A shift toward precision agriculture approaches
• Advanced irrigation monitoring techniques ready to apply
• Nutrition assessment and application strategies tailored to tree age and conditions
• IPM strategies specifically adapted for Australian pests and diseases
• Aflatoxin management through proven biocontrol methods

Looking Ahead

The success of this event has created strong demand for ongoing support, with growers requesting:

• Follow-up training workshops on high-priority topics
• Peer discussion groups to continue learning together
• Fact sheets and how-to guides for practical implementation
• Access to presentation materials for future reference

The high level of interest in our May 2026 PIT group meeting shows the momentum we’ve built together as an industry.

Thank You

A huge thank you to:

• Professor Louise Ferguson, Dr Giulia Marino, and David R. Haviland for sharing decades of research and expertise with such generosity and enthusiasm
• Every grower who attended – your engagement, questions, and willingness to share your own experiences enriched the learning for everyone
• Our associate members for your continued support of the industry

This event demonstrated the strength of our industry when we come together to learn and grow collectively. We’re already planning future events based on your feedback, so watch this space!