Renowned for their research and development in blueberry cultivation, and unique varieties of berries, Mountain Blue Farms is a 200 hectare commercial blueberry farm, with plantings spread across New South Wales & Queensland.
FrostBoss Frost Fans have played a crucial role in protecting crops cultivated on their River Run Farm from frost damage, supporting the expansion of their business and additional investment in breeding new varieties.
Located in Tabulum, New South Wales, Australia, River Run Farm spans over 90 hectares, and with a diverse array of crops, including blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, River Run Farm operates year-round, requiring robust frost protection measures to protect fruits and flowers from winter and spring frosts.
Prior to integrating FrostBoss® Frost Fans into their orchards in 2014, River Run grappled with extreme and persistent cold frosts in Tabulum, posing a significant threat to their berry crops. With the farm now boasting a total of 16 fans strategically positioned across the property, they’ve experienced remarkable improvements in crop preservation and the quality and quantity of annual yields.
Despite initial apprehensions about the compatibility of Frost Fans with plastic tunnels, River Run Farm experienced seamless integration and enhanced air circulation. Through studies conducted on site, Simon highlights the effectiveness of Frost Fans in raising tunnel temperatures by around 4 degrees Celsius.
‘The integration of Frost Fans with our existing orchard infrastructure, including our plastic tunnels, exceeded our expectations. Contrary to our initial concerns, the fans worked effectively alongside the tunnels and enhanced our existing operations. You still get protection from a tunnel alone, but in our experience, the fans took that edge off. In the extreme circumstances we get here sometimes, not having a fan could be the difference between losing fruit and not losing fruit. ’Simon, Project Manager at River Run Farm.
Leveraging the FrostSmart® monitoring system, River Run Farm has gained invaluable insights into fan performance, enabling proactive decision-making during frost events and safeguarding crops from potential damage. Several years ago, River Run experienced 42 days of frosts in one season. ‘Having the fans installed during this time was imperative and would have saved our crops and business from a huge loss.’ - Simon, Project Manager at River Run Farm.
Simon recalls the stark contrast in fruit quality between protected and unprotected blocks, emphasising the critical role of Frost Fans in mitigating frost-related losses.
‘One year early on there was a block spot on the farm that our frost fans weren’t covering, and we were well aware of this at the time. It was clear to see the difference in fruit quality. The fruit in the unprotected block was severely winter burnt and was shrivelled up. It was only 3 hectares, so we’re talking 2-3 tonne damaged fruit. But if we had more unprotected blocks like this across the 90 hectare farm, then we’d be talking a lot higher loss.’ - Simon, Project Manager at River Run Farm.
This loss secured their confidence in Frost Fans and drove their decision to expand the installation of fans across the property, for comprehensive protection of the entire farm.
Since the installation of FrostBoss® Frost Fans, River Run have witnessed a substantial reduction in frost-related crop losses. ‘Our fruits are healthier and the flowers remain undamaged, ensuring consistent quality and yield throughout the season. The return on investment from Frost Fans far outweighs the initial costs. They’ve been an indispensable asset to our business.’ Simon, Project Manager at River Run Farm.
As Mountain Blue Farms continues to push the boundaries of agricultural innovation, FrostBoss® looks forward to ongoing collaboration with River Run Farm and supporting their drive of sustainable growth in the berry farming industry.
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