How a Queensland Citrus Farm Reduced Fungicide Use with PyroAg Wood Vinegar

Growing premium citrus for both Australian and international markets demands careful attention to crop health throughout the season.

At Top Citrus and Benyenda Orchards in Gayndah, Queensland, maintaining healthy trees while reducing reliance on conventional fungicides became a key focus for Matthew Benham and his family. After trialling PyroAg Wood Vinegar alongside their existing spray program, encouraging results led to its adoption across a much larger area of the orchard.

Today, PyroAg Wood Vinegar forms part of the farm's integrated crop management strategy, supporting healthier trees and contributing to a long-term focus on soil health and biological activity.

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About the Orchard

Top Citrus and Benyenda Orchards is a 170-hectare family-owned citrus enterprise located in Gayndah, Queensland.

Operated by Averial and Murray Benham alongside their son Matthew and daughter-in-law Rachael, the business produces approximately 6,500 tonnes of citrus each year.

Fruit is supplied to major Australian retailers including Coles and Woolworths, while around 40% of production is exported to overseas markets including China and India.

The orchards grow a diverse range of fruit including:

• Mandarins

• Oranges

• Lemons

• Grapefruit

• Limes

• Mangoes

Maintaining consistent fruit quality is essential across both domestic and export markets.

Looking for New Ways to Manage Disease

One of the ongoing challenges facing the orchard was Alternaria alternata, a fungal disease capable of reducing fruit quality and affecting production.

Matthew Benham was interested in finding practical ways to reduce fungicide use while maintaining effective disease control.

Working with Glenn Finlay from One Earth QLD, the team established an on-farm trial using PyroAg Wood Vinegar alongside a reduced fungicide program.

The Initial Trial

The first trial was conducted across a 2-hectare block of Daisy mandarins.

Rather than replacing fungicides entirely, PyroAg Wood Vinegar was incorporated into the spray program while reducing fungicide rates by approximately 50%.

Applications were made every three weeks, matching the property's normal fungicide schedule and allowing the comparison to fit naturally within existing orchard operations.

Encouraging Early Results

The trial produced encouraging observations.

According to the Benham family, the orchard maintained consistent control of Alternaria while also recording fewer pest issues compared with conventional management.

An independent pest monitor also noted that the treated trees appeared balanced and healthy throughout the trial period.

These observations gave the family confidence to continue expanding the program.

Expanding Across the Orchard

Following the success of the mandarin trial, Matthew extended PyroAg Wood Vinegar to an additional 18 hectares of lemon trees.

As confidence continued to grow, PyroAg was progressively incorporated throughout the broader orchard management program.

Annual use increased from approximately 3,000 litres to an anticipated 10,000 litres, reflecting the family's confidence in its role within the business.

Supporting Soil Biology

For the Benham family, the decision to continue using PyroAg was about more than disease management alone.

Matthew saw value in supporting:

• Soil microbial activity

• Long-term soil health

• Reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers

• Overall tree resilience

These broader goals aligned with the family's ongoing commitment to continually improving orchard performance through practical management decisions. PyroAg-

Continuing to Evaluate Results

Like any commercial farming business, the Benham family continues to assess the performance of every input they use.

Future trial blocks remain an important part of that process, helping determine where PyroAg can provide the greatest value under commercial growing conditions.

Their experience demonstrates how PyroAg Wood Vinegar can be integrated into existing orchard programs while complementing established disease management practices.

Key Takeaways

• 170-hectare commercial citrus orchard in Gayndah, Queensland

• Produces approximately 6,500 tonnes of citrus annually

• Initial 2-hectare Daisy mandarin trial

• Fungicide rates reduced by approximately 50% during the trial

• Encouraging control of Alternaria and fewer pest observations

• Expanded to 18 hectares of lemons before wider adoption

• Annual use increased from 3,000 L to an anticipated 10,000 L

Download the PDF Case Study

Download the original Queensland Citrus Farm case study to learn more about the trial, application program and observations from the Benham family.