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Biosecurity News

20 October 2016

There are significant research efforts underway in New Zealand and Australia to develop more advanced control tools that will reduce the impact of Queensland fruit fly - kiwifruit’s number one...

There are significant research efforts underway in New Zealand and Australia to develop more advanced control tools that will reduce the impact of Queensland fruit fly - kiwifruit’s number one biosecurity threat. An exciting new development this week is the launch of a female specific fruit fly trap in Australia. Currently our surveillance traps have used pheromones that attract only male flies so a female specific trap is a research priority.

Professor Dick Drew from Griffith University in Queensland has developed a fruit fly trap after 30 years of investigating fruit fly behaviour. He says the Fruition Trap will enable Australian growers to substantially reduce the financial impact of Queensland fruit fly. The trap may also be a potential control tool for us, should New Zealand be faced with another fruit fly incursion. MPI have been keeping abreast of this project to understand the potential application for New Zealand.

Click here to read the full story on ABC Australia.

Photo credit: Griffith University.

Grower News

20 October 2016

Growers with green blocks at high risk of bud-rot infection should be applying a pre-flower girdle now to manage flower bud infection risk. Sepal staining and leafspot are beginning to show on some...

Growers with green blocks at high risk of bud-rot infection should be applying a pre-flower girdle now to manage flower bud infection risk.

Sepal staining and leafspot are beginning to show on some Hayward and G14 blocks (see image) particularly in colder locations or where higher levels of Psa infection have occurred in previous years. These sites saw low levels of Psa symptoms through early spring but weather conditions have been conducive to an increase in risk of infection.

Pre-flower trunk girdling can reduce Psa bud-rot and increasing fruit-set for both Hayward and G14 varieties. Best results are achieved when applied around 30 days before flowering. Many orchards are now within, or are fast approaching, this timing window.

For best results apply full girdles to both male and female vines and avoid girdling stressed plants. Choose a low-risk weather period, apply girdles to stumps in preference to young scions, girdle to the correct depth and ensure tools are sterilised between plants. Even if sepal staining is already being seen, trial results suggest there is benefit in applying a pre-flower girdle.

This tool is strongly recommended for at-risk organic sites. Leave some vines un-girdled to gauge the effectiveness of this technique on your site.

Company Notices

20 October 2016

KVH plans to move to a single legal entity, Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated. This will be a change from the current situation, whereby KVH comprises two legal entities, “Kiwifruit Vine...

KVH plans to move to a single legal entity, Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated. This will be a change from the current situation, whereby KVH comprises two legal entities, “Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated” and “The KVH Foundation Incorporated”, acting jointly. The latter will be wound up.

The reason for this planned change is to reduce cost and simplify accounting. Maintaining two legal entities is no longer cost-effective in light of constitutional changes (namely, a rule change to Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated, making all Growers members) and reduced funding arrangements related to full expenditure of the Crown’s Psa funding contribution.

The practical implication of this change (in addition to the small on-going cost saving) is the Minister for Biosecurity must confirm the new single legal entity, Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated, represents the kiwifruit and kiwiberry sectors for the purpose of GIA (as opposed to the two legal entities acting jointly, as above).

This change will have no impact at all on the biosecurity or Psa activities carried out by KVH, nor any impact on the National Pest Management Plan or the existing levy-order funding arrangements for GIA purposes (apart from levies being payable to Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated instead of KVH Foundation Incorporated). It will not restrict the mandate of KVH in any way, as the existing rules of Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated are sufficiently broad and provide for all functions and activities carried out by KVH, inclusive of the additional functions and activities that would be transferred to Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated following its succession to KVH Foundation Incorporated.

KVH wishes to ensure there are no grower concerns or issues with this planned change, and welcomes any feedback. Please submit any feedback to info@kvh.org.nz no later than Friday 11 November. Shortly after this date KVH plans to submit a formal application to MPI and the Minister to make the change.

Grower News

20 October 2016

KVH has received reports of Psa symptoms from three Arguta orchards this week. Leaf spot, blackened leaves and shoot collapse has been observed on two varieties and test results from Hills confirmed...

KVH has received reports of Psa symptoms from three Arguta orchards this week.

Leaf spot, blackened leaves and shoot collapse has been observed on two varieties and test results from Hills confirmed samples as Psa positive.

Arguta growers are recommended to monitor their blocks and contact KVH if Psa-like symptoms are seen, particularly on Psa-V undetected sites.

This level of symptom expression is higher than seen in previous seasons.

Grower News

20 October 2016

There has been a new positive Psa result for Whangarei on a trial variety within the current controlled area. The block showing symptoms has been removed and no symptoms have been seen in surrounding...

Growers in the Whangarei region are monitoring their orchards fortnightly with the next round due to be reported to KVH on 21 October.

Growers are recommended to maintain a copper programme that ensure rapidly expanding leaves are protected prior to high risk weather. Actigard may also be used up until the first female flower opens.

Grower News

20 October 2016

Following consultation with Gisborne growers, the KVH Board has approved the change of the regional classification for Gisborne under the NPMP from a Containment region to a Recovery region,...

Following consultation with Gisborne growers, the KVH Board has approved the change of the regional classification for Gisborne under the NPMP from a Containment region to a Recovery region, effective from 20 October. It has been confirmed that 58 percent of orchards in the region are have tested positive for Psa-V and 72 percent of kiwifruit hectares are on an orchard confirmed positive.

Psa-V was first detected in the region in November 2012 and growers are to be commended for the excellent work they have done in helping slow the spread.

All growers in the region are encouraged to ensure they continue to adhere to Psa management best practices and wider biosecurity best practices on their orchards going forward.

Grower News

20 October 2016

A group from Chile recently visited the Bay of Plenty to learn more about our kiwifruit industry and to understand how New Zealand growers are managing their orchards to minimise the impact of...

A group from Chile recently visited the Bay of Plenty to learn more about our kiwifruit industry and to understand how New Zealand growers are managing their orchards to minimise the impact of Psa.

The group came from a range of backgrounds, including growers and technical staff; and included Christian Abud who is a member of the technical committee for Chiles National Plan Protection Organisation. This organisation is responsible for developing strategies in the containment of Psa in Chile.

The group reported that in Chile, Psa is continuing to progress northwards through the growing regions at around 100km/year. Psa has now reached the growing area around Curico where the Gold varieties are grown. Use of plastic covers has been successful for mitigating Psa effects for Gold varieties but the number of planted hectares is not increasing due to the uncertainty of this variety in the Psa environment.

Hosted by KVH and Zespri, the group attended presentations and visited both Hayward and Gold3 orchards. They were particularly interested in the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme, seeing this as a key mechanism for reducing the risk of pests and pathogens spreading to new regions. Chileans are also researching biological control options and plant health strategies to reduce Psa impacts.

Grower News

20 October 2016

Growers in ‘Exclusion’ regions and all growers with ‘Not Detected’ orchards were required to carry out a round of mandatory monitoring in October. Results are due to KVH by 31...

Growers in ‘Exclusion’ regions and all growers with ‘Not Detected’ orchards were required to carry out a round of mandatory monitoring in October. Results are due to KVH by 31 October.

All growers in the Whangarei region (where a Controlled Area remains in place) are required to carry out additional monitoring and report their results on the following dates:

• 21 October

• 4 November

To assist growers, an online monitoring form is available on the KVH website here. Contact 0800 665 1253 if you require assistance.

Biosecurity News

20 October 2016

With the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme becoming mandatory on October 1st, KVH is pleased to announce another nursery has joined the Scheme this week. Amber Nurseries in Cambridge is now...

With the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme becoming mandatory on October 1st, KVH is pleased to announce another nursery has joined the Scheme this week. Amber Nurseries in Cambridge is now selling KPCS “Full Certification” plants, joining 13 other nurseries from around New Zealand.

For a list of KPCS certified nurseries, and to find out more about requirements of the KPCS, click here.

Company Notices

18 October 2016

KVH have an exciting development opportunity for a future leader within the Kiwifruit Industry. We are seeking an upcoming leader to join the Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated & The KVH...

KVH have an exciting development opportunity for a future leader within the Kiwifruit Industry.

We are seeking an upcoming leader to join the Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated & The KVH Foundation Incorporated Board of Directors as an Associate Director.

This opportunity will expose the successful applicant to gain experience in governance, leadership and strategy while bringing his/her own industry knowledge and experience to the KVH Board table.

The Associate Director will also have the opportunity to be mentored by an Industry Leader and a contribution from KVH towards their governance training.

This is a non-voting role however the Board seeks full participation in meetings and will welcome constructive contributions from the Associate Director in the workings of the Board.

For further information or a copy of the position description please contact Jacqui Craig on 0800 665 825.

Please send your current CV and application letter to: Jacqui Craig, jacqui.craig@kvh.org.nz

Applications close Friday 11 November 2016.

Grower News

6 October 2016

KVH travelled to Wanganui in September, visiting nine orchards over two days. A meeting was held to discuss Wanganui spray programmes compared to other regions and best practice Psa management over...

Most growers achieved good dry matter last season, enabling them to harvest crops in April - at least a month earlier than previous years. Actigard and copper had been applied post-harvest while leaves were still in good condition, which set the orchards up well going into winter. Overall the region experienced a milder winter with lower rainfall.

Compared with last year, fewer Psa symptoms were seen, with one notable exception in Mangamahu Valley, where colder, wetter portions of an orchard were showing significant exudate. Growers have been proactive with monitoring and removal of infected material. Early indications are that bud break was looking good and growers were quietly confident of a good start to the season.

Company Notices

6 October 2016

KVH welcomed Stuart Woodcock to the team in August. Stuart is a PhD student from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. He is working with KVH and Zespri on a three month...

KVH welcomed Stuart Woodcock to the team in August. Stuart is a PhD student from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. He is working with KVH and Zespri on a three month secondment.

His work investigates how bacteria are able to cause disease in humans and plants and he has previously worked with bacteria similar to Psa. Stuart is using his time in New Zealand to review the recent research on Psa and gain insight into how the kiwifruit industry works. By the end of his secondment, he hopes to have identified any gaps in past research and will provide recommendations on future direction.

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