YOUR INDUSTRY
KIWIFRUIT UPDATE
Hydrogen cyanamide an important tool for kiwifruit growers The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is currently reassessing hydrogen cyanamide for approval for use in New Zealand. Hydrogen cyanamide is an important tool for many kiwifruit growers and is used under strict conditions once a year, in late winter (July to early September), when the vines are dormant. The spray helps to produce greater yields of quality fruit which ripen at the same time, making it easier to harvest.
... removing hydrogen cyanamide could result in a loss of between $233 and $300 million in grower returns The New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporation (NZKGI) commissioned an NZ Institute of Economic Research Inc (NZIER) report on the economic impact, assessing the costs and benefits of withdrawing hydrogen cyanamide from the New Zealand market. NZIER found that removing hydrogen cyanamide could result in a loss of between $233 and $300 million in grower returns, plus another negative impact of $100 million on other associated industries. What is hydrogen cyanamide? Hydrogen cyanamide is a flower-inducing dormancybreaking compound used on dormant vines. It is critical for kiwifruit production where it is used in late winter primarily to compensate for inadequate winter chill. Hydrogen cyanamide is also used to condense flowering, promote uniform budbreak and reduce unwanted lateral flowers even in regions which don’t need to compensate for lack of winter chill. The synchronised flowering it promotes means pollination and fruit maturity is also synchronised which gives efficiencies in labour, as orchards can be strip-picked.
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The ORCHARDIST : DECEMBER 2021
What is the EPA proposing? The EPA has recommended that hydrogen cyanamide be banned and phased out over a five-year period and tighter controls be introduced during the phase-out period. These include: • Introduction of buffer zones • Update of hazard classifications • Restriction of application rate to 25ai/ha • Update to labelling and packaging • Restriction of application period. Keeping communities safe The industry has done a lot of work over the years to develop best practice spray technology guidelines and has developed compulsory measures for all growers and spray contractors to mitigate risk. All growers and spray contractors are certified to the internationally recognised best practice standards benchmarked against GLOBALG.A.P. Examples of risk mitigations include: • Using AI (air inclusion) 1 nozzles (making the spray droplets bigger and heavier to reduce the risk of drift) • Adding drift reducing additive • Spraying in the right conditions • Spray plans are in place and risk areas on orchards are identified • Neighbours are notified and signs are in place.
The industry has done a lot of work over the years to develop best practice spray technology guidelines The kiwifruit industry has for many years voluntarily operated a national public service to provide information and receive feedback from the public on kiwifruit growing operations – including spray activity, noise (bird scarers or fans) and labour compliance. The service informs compliance activities for Zespri GLOBALG.A.P.
