KVH together with the Port of Tauranga (POTL) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), has developed a 2016 ‘Biosecurity Pest Calendar’ to lift biosecurity protection at Tauranga’s Port by highlighting to staff some of the offshore pests that could enter New Zealand through their own workplace.

Featuring twelve unwanted pests including fruit flies, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, imported fire ants and other pests that could cause serious harm to New Zealand’s primary industries and unique environment, the calendar is part of an ongoing, wider initiative with other Bay of Plenty and industry organisations to pursue ‘biosecurity excellence at the Port’.

Hundreds of the calendars have been distributed throughout common areas and smoko rooms at the Port of Tauranga; and also transitional facilities and associated industries. This reaches thousands of front line staff working in and around the port, as well as others routinely handling biosecurity risk goods; so they know what to look for, where to look for them, when the highest risk times are, and what to do should they suspect something unusual.

Heightened surveillance amongst people who are likely to find these pests should they arrive is a good opportunity to help keep these unwanted pests out of New Zealand.

All staff working in and around the port can play a big part in keeping unwanted pests and diseases out of New Zealand. If they suspect any of the pests featured in the calendar they are encouraged to CATCH IT and CALL the MPI Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
 

Kiwifruit growers and other passengers associated with primary sectors may find they experience more interventions at the airport when returning to NZ. This is because they potentially pose a greater biosecurity risk based on the likelihood they have visited offshore orchards and farms during their travels.

KVH has put together a brief summary outlining what kiwifruit growers can do to help reduce biosecurity risk if they have visited an offshore orchard or farm; and what they can expect through border control when arriving back in New Zealand.

Click here for the fact sheet.

KVH would like to say thank you and farewell to outgoing NZKGI Chief Executive Mike Chapman for his excellent service to the kiwifruit industry over the last 10 years, and in particular for his commitment to KVH.

Mike was a Director on the KVH Board since its inception almost five years ago, and more recently has been the Secretary of the Board. At the end of December Mike will take up his new role as Chief Executive at Horticulture NZ and we wish him all the very best.
 

Caplit and foliar-applied Actigard™ are no longer permitted on producing vines. These products may be applied post-flowering to 28 February 2016 to non-producing vines only.

2015 has been a tough spring for growers managing Psa-V, with generally higher levels of infection being seen in all positive regions, particularly on cold, wet sites.  Again, male vines appear to have been more affected, particularly those less tolerant to Psa-V.

On the coldest sites, Gold3 infection continues to be cut out (see image of Waikato orchard). Dieback and cane collapse in some young blocks has led to canopies being reduced to around 50% of cover achieved through last year’s growing season. Impacts on production will vary between sites.

However, Psa-V symptoms are expected to reduce as we move further into summer.

Hayward growers are optimistic that productivity will remain high despite early season Psa-V effects. Excellent budbreak resulted in high flower numbers and the level of leaf spot and bud infection in green varieties is less than previous seasons. This is likely due to a combination of dryer spring weather in many regions, a strong uptake of pre-flower girdles in at-risk blocks, and good spray programmes through the spring period.

Good supplies of male flowers to pollen mills are hoped to refresh industry pollen supplies as poor synchronisation of Gold3 males led to high demand for pollen early in the season.
 

Managing male vines well is a key part of safeguarding orchards against Psa infection and future-proofing pollen supply for the orchard. Where needed, more tolerant male varieties should be grafted in and male pruning should be well supervised.

• Remove obviously Psa infected canes and wood
• Make the structural cuts to help promote spur growth and provide a flat, open canopy
• Seal any large wounds with suitable sealant.
• Maintain a gap between male and female vines
• Carry out pruning in dry weather
• Always maintain good tool hygiene to avoid infection transfer
• Follow pruning rounds with a Psa-V protectant spray

Click here for KVH Best Practice Advice: Male Management

While grafting is normally done through winter, summer provides a good opportunity to graft through a warmer period and re-establish failed winter grafts as well as change males across to more tolerant varieties. Summer grafting with new season’s graftwood is an option if no stored wood is available.

Click on the links below to access the following articles on the Zespri Canopy:

• Summer grafting – Italian experiences and recommendations
• Summer grafting with new season graftwood
  

KVH Protocols apply to movement of budwood – click here.

Now that all kiwifruit orchards have progressed into flowering, KeyStrepto™ and Ambitious may no longer be applied. These products have been removed from the Recommended Product List for this time of year.

A new copper product for Psa-V protection has become available for conventional growers. AG Copp 75 (cuprous oxide) has a limited label claim and has been added to the Conventional Zespri Crop Protection Standard and the KVH Recommended Product List.

Manufacturers recommend applying AG Copp 75 on its own post-flowering to reduce the risk of fruit marking or leaf damage.

Summer rates for the budbreak to harvest period are outlined in KVH Recommended Product List. Use conditions and rates year-round are included in the KVH Seasonal Management Guide.
 

Psa-V has progressed significantly this season in Chile; with an unusually wet spring being the likely contributor. Disease severity is high in all varieties and the Chilean kiwifruit industry is predicting a potential drop in production as a result.

Bud-rot and leaf spotting symptoms are widespread in Hayward varieties; and other varieties (Hong Yang, Enza Gold, Jintao and Summer Kiwi) that were already infected are showing more severe symptoms such as cane dieback and exudate.

The disease has continued to spread north and the first infected orchard in the northern ‘Metropolitan region’ has recently been identified.

Latest figures released by Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service confirms 17 new orchards have been confirmed Psa-V positive, bringing the total of infected orchards to 180 – an area of approximately 1,900 hectares.

The Chilean Kiwifruit Committee continues to encourage growers to adopt strict hygiene measures, particularly tool hygiene between vines, regular monitoring and movement controls to prevent further spread.
 

The use of KeyStrepto™ this season is quickly coming to an end. Growers are reminded KeyStrepto™ cannot be applied within seven days of the first flower opening.

While some Hayward orchards may still be outside of the seven-day window, this window is rapidly closing. Growers are urged to be cautious if applying KeyStrepto™ to ensure they stay well outside of the seven days before flowering period.

Most orchards are well into flowering and KeyStrepto™ use is no longer permitted.

There is still time for growers of green varieties with little or no male infection to consider making their orchard available for flower picking to support their own and industry stocks. Early male flowers can be collected for pollen without impacting on pollination.

Growers supplying flowers are asked to assess their orchards to avoid infected areas and monitor pickers to ensure infected flowers are not picked.

Several pollen mills have commenced milling this season; KVH will be auditing them over the coming weeks.