February 2019 Edition Issue No. 2
Farmlands Co-operative – growing your business.
Growing success for our shareholders It is encouraging to observe the continued success and expansion in the major New Zealand horticultural sectors. However, we regularly hear from growers the challenges they continue to face – labour supply, bio-security, and intensifying compliance requirements to name just a few. Full marks to Massey University for its introduction of a Bachelor of Horticultural Science (BHortSc) as a stand-alone degree, commencing this year. We all have a part to play in encouraging young New Zealanders to enter the horticulture sector. Farmlands is pleased to be moving into year 2 of our internal Future Field Experts Programme – an internal pathway to develop people into technical field based roles. It is critical for all of us in the horticulture sector to have a heightened awareness of the potential bio-security threats that could adversely affect New Zealand. Industry groups such as KVH function to assist in the protection of our horticultural businesses. Farmlands now has a key focus to engage, learn and assist such industry organisations in their critically important work. Our shareholders tell us that efficiently operating safe businesses in today’s environment is a key concern for them. Farmlands recently launched the “SafeFarm” Farm IQ module, free to all Farmlands shareholders. This tool supports shareholders to efficiently manage health and safety and its compliance requirements. Like the industry, our horticulture team continues to strengthen and mature. Our focus remains on adding value, identifying innovation, and enabling a broadened supply of inputs to the expansive range of horticultural sectors our shareholders operate in. In this edition of Growing Success, you will read about our Innovation Vineyard, improved offerings and resourcing of winery and beekeeping products, advice on some key crop protection products and an avocado industry update.
www.farmlands.co.nz | 0800 200 600
The success of our co-operative is a true reflection of the support and success of our shareholder owners. The co-operatives’ strong financial result last year has enabled us to reintroduce a year-end bonus rebate to shareholders. We have just returned $6.1 million to shareholders – split 50:50 between cash and extra shares – under the bonus scheme. We thank our shareholders for our result. The continued loyalty has allowed us to harness the buying power of 68,000 shareholders nationwide to bring you a better deal. As harvest approaches for many growers, we wish you all the very best.
Mark Daniels General Manager – Farmlands Horticulture
Innovation Vineyard Project investigates best practice
The Innovation Vineyard Project was initiated in 2017, as a collaboration between Marlborough Grape Growers and Farmlands. The vineyard itself comprises blocks at Ben McLauchlan’s Rothay Vineyard in Rapaura, Marlborough.
Vine replacement and replanting – with several methods introduced for comparative assessment.
The Innovation Vineyard Project aims to facilitate participation and discussion of best practice that will improve crop quality and grower returns. In addition, blue-sky technologies are being demonstrated and assessed. Growers belonging to either Marlborough Grape Growers or Farmlands will benefit by engaging in and learning from this project. Outcomes from the project will be presented to Marlborough Grape Growers and Farmlands shareholders annually through field days, seminars and technical notes.
Spray timing – using a comprehensive programme, reporting will reveal planned vs actual applications.
The actions implemented for this season include under vine mulching and planting, vine phenology and management practices, trunk disease, pruning wounds, vine replacement, nutrition monitoring, botrytis decision model application, spray coverage assessment, botrytis management with a biological product and blue-sky technology investigation. The scope of the Innovation Vineyard Project has been established by breaking down key vineyard tasks, so that best practice can be investigated and ultimately implemented for them. The focus is on the following tasks: Data recording systems – recording everything that is done. If it’s not measured then it can’t be managed. Information can then be compared with annual benchmark reports from New Zealand Winegrowers. Soil type and topography recording – blocks have been mapped using AgriOptics electromagnetic ground survey, providing a GPS map of soil texture at 50cm and 150cm depths and soil surface data. The maps record aspect, depressions, soil texture variation (gravel/sand/clay), bulk density, water holding capacity and infiltration rates, elevation and landscape changes and slope percentage (relevant for water/nutrient run-off, safe machinery movement). Pruning – with a focus on individual vine health and vigour, crop load and disease management.
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Crop monitoring – scouting to support pest and disease management decisions.
Spray application – calibration, appropriate sprayer setup for changing canopy and targets and coverage assessment at key timings using water sensitive papers. Canopy management – to aid spray coverage and optimise airflow for disease management. Irrigation monitoring – using Sentek Irrigation Probes coupled with electromagnetic map data. Nutrition – combining soil testing, electromagnetic maps and Integrape satellite imagery to finetune requirements. The Innovation Vineyard Project has subscribed to Integrape to assess its value on behalf of growers. Foliar nutrition, fertigation and foliage testing will be used to manage nitrogen and trace elements. Under vine management – comparing conventional systems using herbicides, with under vine plant establishment and mowing. Ease of management, vine vigour and crop quality will be used as assessment parameters. Blue-sky thinking – investigating the use of drones and satellites for crop health assessment, as well as the use of smart machinery and GPS mapped data for targeted application of agrichemical and nutrition. The Innovation Vineyard Project is a new, dynamic endeavour aimed at delivering information to provide Marlborough Grape Growers and Farmlands shareholders greater vineyard returns. Further information can be gained from either Mart Verstappen (Farmlands, Blenheim) or Johnny McMillan (Marlborough Grape Growers, Blenheim). Article supplied by Mark Daniels, General Manager – Horticulture, Farmlands.
February 2019 Edition
A few vintages under his belt As Farmlands has grown its presence in the New Zealand viticulture sector, we have also been broadening our shareholder offering of winery specific products. While our product offering commenced over three years ago, our ability to offer significant experience and advice was greatly enhanced when Chris Young, a vastly experienced winemaker, joined our Blenheim based team as a technical adviser (winery) prior to vintage 2018. Chris is passionate about the art of winemaking and with 28 years of experience in viticulture and wine production under his belt, he has the knowledge and understanding required to service the wine industry to a high level.
Starting initially with two vintages in Martinborough, Chris found the art of winemaking to be his passion. After graduating with a bachelors’ degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Adelaide University (Roseworthy Campus) in Australia, Chris then moved to Marlborough where for 24 years he worked as a consultant winemaker and wine educator. Although reluctant to raise this himself, a little homework reveals he has had some good recognition at National and International wine shows over the years. During this time, Chris was also involved in Oenology and Viticulture education, both at NMIT and as a lecturer for Lincoln University (based in Marlborough). Chris believes a good winemaker must have an intimate knowledge of viticulture, and as such he has spent much time in vineyards over the years. He believes the winemaker’s challenge is to attempt to capture the full potential of the grape through to the bottle. “Less is often more where winemaking is concerned” Chris has an adage “you can’t make great wine from poor grapes, but you can certainly make poor wine from good grapes”. Hence an important component of a great vintage is an intimate knowledge of the crop through the growing season and then to work with the raw material to get the best result. This coupled with strong wine technical knowledge and experience provide the key to a great finished product. While Chris is based at the Farmlands Blenheim branch, he has a national oversight for Farmlands winery products. Chris is therefore available to discuss requirements for other grape growing regions. He is working closely with Farmlands Technical Advisors in other key grape-growing regions to provide appropriate technical support, ensuring a high level of service is provided. Supporting Chris in his Blenheim base is Technical Advisor, John McGinlay. While John’s prime focus is on viticulture in Marlborough, his experience in winemaking provides excellent back up support (both local and nationally). John has excellent winery product knowledge. In addition to the standard array of winery products, Chris will be very happy to discuss some of the innovative cleaning products Farmlands has brought to the New Zealand market, which are manufactured by EasyClean Chemicals (Melbourne) and gaining a strong following Nationally. For further information please contact: Chris Young, Farmlands Blenheim chris.young@farmlands.co.nz | 027 788 9995
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You too can have a weed-free orchard or vineyard Growers can now see for themselves the effects of a new, long-lasting grass and broadleaf herbicide. Demonstration plots and trials have been set up to allow growers to compare in their own situations, the results of using a contact and soil residual herbicide for seasonlong weed control on their orchards and vineyards. Introducing Chateau® from Nufarm. The active ingredient flumioxazin (Group E) has not previously been registered for use in grapes, pipfruit, stonefruit or kiwifruit. Nufarm Territory Manager for Hawke’s Bay, Adrian Rigby, says trials in a commercial setting are a great way for growers to learn more about chemistry and the benefits of Chateau. “There’s a lot of interest in it, for two reasons,” Adrian says. “It’s an extremely effective alternative mode of action (MOA) for use in herbicide resistance management strategies. And it provides effective control of a wide range of key weeds.” Growers also have a chance to measure this new product’s lasting residual weed suppression against their own normal weed spray programme. Typically, a knockdown herbicide needs to be applied three to four times a season. Chateau’s results show it’s an economic option for controlling weeds without the need for repeated spraying during the growing season. It has been tested extensively for efficacy, crop safety and residues, under New Zealand conditions, on vineyards and orchards across the country, consistently providing season long weed control in this wide range of climates and crops. Three strip trials were put down in 2017 and 13 trials this season. These were on different sites so local growers could experience the benefits for themselves ahead of the 2019 season. “Even after 6 months, 100% weed control was evident in the treated Chateau areas. And, when it came to harvest, amazingly there were still very few weeds in the Chateau strips,” Adrian said. When applied as per label directions, Chateau has been proven to be safe for young and established trees and vines (trees must be 1 year before first application; vines must be 2 years). Chateau is a proven pre-emergence residual herbicide. For more information contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor. ®
Chateau is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited,
Japan. Article supplied by Nufarm.
A weed-free Chateau trial strip 6 months after spray application.
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February 2019 Edition
Psa-V management in kiwifruit (post-harvest to leaf fall)
The period between harvest and leaf-fall is a high risk for Psa-V in kiwifruit, with cooler and wetter weather favouring Psa-V infection in the autumn. Wounds created at harvest provide ideal entry points for Psa-V, and late season growth (especially in male vines) is particularly vulnerable to Psa-V infection. The application of approved protectant sprays is recommended immediately post-harvest to help protect fruit stalks, leaves, and late season growth from Psa-V infection. This includes copper, with the addition of Actigard where there is no risk of spray drift onto unharvested fruit. The effectiveness of using Actigard in the autumn was highlighted last season by a Katikati grower who missed spraying Actigard post-harvest on three rows in a block of Hayward. The unsprayed vines developed secondary symptoms of Psa in the spring including curled shoots and exudate, while the Actigard treated vines remained healthy. The benefit of applying Actigard early post-harvest is that leaves are in better condition to absorb the systemic active ingredient (acibenzolar-s-methyl). It can take 4 to 7 days for Actigard to fully activate kiwifruit vines, so the addition of copper is recommended for immediate protection and for multiple modes of action against Psa-V. Actigard should be applied at a rate of 200g/ha as a dilute spray in conjunction with copper as soon as practical after harvest, with good coverage of leaves, fruit stalks and leaf scars required to optimise efficacy.
Actigard can be applied to kiwifruit up to four times per season. Depending on how many Actigard sprays have been applied in the spring up to two applications of Actigard can be applied at 21 day intervals post-harvest, if canopy condition allows (i.e. leaves are still green). Actigard is likely to be less effective when applied to leaves at an advanced stage of deterioration or after a significant frost event. It is best to apply Actigard prior to (rather than after) a high risk weather event, and avoid applying Actigard to vines already stressed due to frost, high winds or excessive moisture. To avoid the risk of residues, extreme care must be taken to avoid spray drift onto fruit in unharvested areas of the orchard or neighbouring orchards. Sprayer tanks must also be cleaned thoroughly before any other products are applied to unharvested vines. Actigard has consistently shown to reduce the symptoms of Psa-V by stimulating the natural self-defence system of kiwifruit via a response known as Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). Reducing the level of Psa-V infection in the autumn can help to reduce the symptoms of Psa-V the following spring. For more advice on the use of Actigard for Psa-V management, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor. Article supplied by Syngenta Crop Protection Limited.
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Bee ready for these upcoming tasks It’s been a ‘buzzy’ season out there for all the hardworking beekeepers across the country. Farmlands has certainly seen a tremendous increase in interest and uptake of our beekeeping supplies product range. We now have 11 Farmlands stores nationwide with bulk sugar syrup fill stations. In addition, we can deliver bulk sugar syrup direct to site (minimum delivery volumes apply). As harvest and extraction draw closer, it’s important to consider the upcoming tasks. Honey robbing by wasps / other bees Monitor your hives for thieving insect activity as wasps and other bees will take any opportunity to help themselves. Ensure their access to your hives is limited and the entrance doors are set up correctly. If possible, follow wasps back to their source and then deal with them appropriately and safely. If it is other bees doing the ‘robbing’, then relocation of the intruders may be an option. Check all brood frames for American Foulbrood (AFB) This is a must do for hive hygiene as the long-term sustainability and health of New Zealand’s bee stocks depends on it. Follow the correct protocols to ensure you are AFB free. If you are in doubt we suggest you ask your local beekeeping group for assistance. Further information can also be found at www.afb.org.nz
Check water supply for hives It’s hot, thirsty work producing all that honey so ensure your hives have a good supply of water nearby. Water needs to be good quality and most importantly it needs to be readily accessible. Consider draping sacking or similar into the water supply so bees can easily access the water. Test for varroa mite levels Testing is highly recommended to ensure the ongoing hive health and strength. Harvest and honey extraction Before you know it, it’s going to be time to extract your season’s bounty of liquid gold! Before you begin, ask yourself if you have you got everything that is required? For example sufficient honey containers and lids, extraction crew, a clean environment for extraction or access to an appropriate extractor or kitchen. Late summer queen rearing If drones are available, splitting to weather down hives may be advisable. If you have any questions regarding any of this or other beekeeping related issues, please call in and see your local Farmlands team. We’re here to help with all your beekeeping requirements. Article supplied by Angus Bews, Farmlands Whakatu (Hastings)
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February 2019 Edition
Avocado Update with Jen Scoular Where has the avocado industry been making the most advances over the past 12 months? Values achieved in every market – including the New Zealand market – have hit record highs over the past 12 months, with excellent management of supply and demand in all markets. The industry successfully gained market access for avocados from New Zealand to China earlier this year – a huge success. With the growth in hectares of avocados recently and an increase in yields, the China market offers a wonderful opportunity to take large volumes of fruit. During the 4 years of negotiations to achieve market access, New Zealand Avocado and exporters have been proactively increasing their understanding of the China market and relationships for the future. How do New Zealand avocado growers position themselves compared to competing growers overseas? What is our point of difference?
What are some of the major challenges facing the avocado industry? The rise and demand for avocados globally is definitely a wonderful advantage. New Zealand’s challenge now is to meet that demand. We need to grow more avocados! Avocados come from Central and South America, which indicates correctly that the temperate New Zealand climate makes growing avocados a challenge. It is often wetter, cooler and windier than the ideal climate and growers need to make allowances for those factors with good shelter, drainage and canopy management. Keeping our trees healthy with excellent nutrition and soil management is also very important and a challenge to maintain. The wet climate increases the incidences of rot in avocado, so growers must follow best practice to help minimise any issues with the development of post-harvest rots.
We talk of people, provenance and product. Avocados from New Zealand are grown in our wonderful clean green environment. Our growers also nurture the avocados to help produce an amazing eating experience for all consumers. What are the major goals for New Zealand Avocado over the next 10 years? The industry set 10 year goals back in 2013 to quadruple sales and treble productivity to $280m and 12 tonnes per hectare. Half way through that period, we are on track to meet those audacious goals. We are developing new Asian markets and have successfully doubled the returns from the New Zealand market. The industry is working collaboratively towards those goals, acknowledging that we will succeed best if we work as one industry going in one direction. Article supplied by Jen Scoular, CEO, New Zealand Avocado.
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