Hort News 08 September 2020

HORTNEWS SEPTEMBER 2020, ISSUE 12

WWW.RURALNEWS.CO.NZ

Keeping it local!

Nigel Malthus

BEING UNABLE to bring in experienced workers from overseas – while being unable to stop cheap imports coming in – are the big difficulties for the potato industry as it heads into the next growing season under the cloud of a global pandemic.

Third-generation grower Daniel Lovett, of Lovett Family Farms, near Ashburton, supplies potatoes for the McCain’s processing factory at Timaru.

He also produces onions, carrots and other vegetables for other processors.

With more than 1000 ha, the farm employs 14 fulltime staff. At this time of year, the ground is being prepared for the new season and Lovett would normally also have four or five experienced overseas staff helping out.

He has employed three locals but says it is not the same as someone with experience of the modern million-dollar machines in use.

“It was great having overseas boys because they grew up with vegetables their whole life and they could jump on that machine and they knew how to operate and make it work, but that can’t happen this year,” he told Hort News.

“Harvest will be the tighter period; we’ll need more people then and so will every other farmer in Canterbury really.”

Meanwhile, Lovett says the industry is facing competition from cheap imports, particularly from Europe, where because of Covid-19, subsidised growers have lost their usual market – chips for restaurants and soccer crowds.

“I was talking to a guy in Holland last night and he said

that there’s new potatoes being harvested in Europe at the moment, which are going straight to the cows.”

Some are also finding their way to New Zealand, despite calls from Potatoes New Zealand for a ban on cheap imports.

Lovett says supermarket shoppers should look at the labels on housebrand frozen chips before they buy.

“Hopefully, the general public will just keep asking where the fries are coming from.”

The potato processor McCain Foods describes Lovett as one of the many Canterbury growers it is proud to work with.

The Lovett farm alone produces more than 10% of the 550 million potatoes processed at McCain’s Timaru plant each year. Lovetts have supplied McCain since 2000.

McCain says that when it opened the plant in 1994, it was focused on forging strong relationships with New Zealand growers and has always underpinned its operations by growing “green and local.”

“McCain Foods’ success is grounded in the people we work with – and the reliability and dedication of our local growers like the Lovett family is a key part in that success,” says John Jackson,

McCain Foods ANZ Agricultural Director.

“We’re proud to be bringing premium produce from our trusted New Zealand growers to supermarket freezer aisles. And we will continue to strengthen our bonds to our local communities to provide better outcomes for our customers and our growers.”

A subsidiary of a Canadian parent company, McCain Foods operates from sites in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, as well as Hawkes Bay and Timaru.

“We’ve encountered a vast amount of issues, from weather extremes, seedline issues, fertiliser trials, soil borne diseases, over/under production and the potato psyllid,” Lovett told Hort News. “But we have always been able to work through those problems with McCain’s team.”

Third-generation grower Daniel Lovett, of Lovett Family Farms, near Ashburton. The Lovett farm alone produces more than 10% of the 550 million potatoes processed at McCain’s Timaru plant each year.

PROUD TO BE LOCAL? THE FEELING’S MUTUAL.

There are plenty of good reasons for being local right now. As a 100% NZ-owned mutual, we’ve always been proud to be local—and to act local. That’s why you’ll see us at events (when we can) all over the country supporting those who support us. Most of our team live and work in the same region as their clients, which makes it easy to come to the farm and share specialist insurance and risk advice.

When we’re not on farm with you, we’re only a phone call away to chat through things over the phone. If that sounds like the kind of local insurer you’d like to deal with, ask around about us or better still, give us a call on 0800 366 466.

FMG1032RNFPS_B

We’re here for the good of the country.

New Varroa heat treatment causes a buzz – Page 7

ISSN 2624-3490 (print) ISSN 2624-3504 (online)

2

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Environmental developments on the Lovett family farm, near Ashburton, include high-efficiency liquid fertigation, moisture probes and rain gauges in every paddock, and yield monitors on all harvesters.

ENVIRONMENT TOP OF MIND DANIEL LOVETT emphasises the farm’s environmental management.

Developments include high-efficiency liquid fertigation, moisture probes and rain gauges in every paddock, and yield monitors on all harvesters.

This year he is introducing American-made probes that will give live data on nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and sulphur plus soil temperature and moisture, all in one probe at depth.

Daniel Lovett says the farm, between the Rakaia and Ashburton Rivers, is a great area for potatoes.

“I’ve got the irrigation. As long as we get the weather, as long as we get sunshine then we’ve got good soils.”

The psyllid costs the farm $2000 a hectare. Like kiwifruit’s PSA, the honey industry’s varroa and the cattle’s mycoplasma bovis, the psyllid is a wake-up call that the border needs to be tight, he says.

“It’s not just the people coming in through the doors - well, they’re not coming in at the moment - but we’ve just got to be so careful on machinery and what we actually bring into the country.”

115 Bolt Road, Tahunanui 7011, Nelson

Agricultural Textiles We have been importers of these products for over 25 years.

• • • • • • • • • •

Nets & netting for vineyards & grapes Weed Matting, 91cm, 183cm & 366cm Wind/Shade Cloth 183cm & 366cm White Reflective Fabrics Frost Cloth Bird Catching Nets Black Planter Bags (heavy duty) Rain Covers Artificial Grass Black/White Mulch Film CONTAC T: Brendan FREEPHONE: 0800 108 382 EMAIL: ritex@ritex.co.nz

Opportunities aplenty in Hort Peter Kemp

NOW IS the time for you to set yourself up for a career in horticulture.

The popular media focus on fruit picker shortages, but the future of the horticulture industry rests on more people with science, management and technical qualifications. The sector’s future is with the innovators and entrepreneurs that drive New Zealand horticulture to be a world leader. People who will solve the need for fruit pickers with robotics and artificial intelligence. People who will ensure we continue to grow the best quality fruit and vegetables, and who know how to package, store, transport and market fruit and vegetables to the world.

There is such a shortage of qualified people in the booming horticultural industry that Horticulture NZ has a team of liaison officers encouraging students and others to study for qualifications the industry desperately needs.

That a booming industry producing wholesome food can’t find sufficient employees in New Zealand beggars belief.

There is a job at every level you aspire to in horticulture. The jobs are well paid, and the major horticultural regions have great weather and towns and cities. And the continuing Covid19 crisis reminds us all of the sustainability of careers in the food producing industries.

So seize the opportunity to do a horticultural science degree, or some other qualification that will take your career into the future.

Once you have learnt about how quality fruit and vegetables are produced, stored and marketed you can get involved in jobs like managing staff on orchards, providing technical and science advice on how to optimise fruit or vegetable production, or become a producer yourself.

Then there are all the jobs along the chain such as running packing sheds and marketing. The industry is full of people happy to talk to you about what they do and help you get a start, just give them a call or start by going to https://gohorticulture.co.nz/ and watch videos of people talking about their jobs and how they got into them.

• Professor Peter Kemp is the Head of Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University

Massey University’s Peter Kemp.

WATERBLASTERS ALBERTI HOT CLEANERS

TORNADO RANGE

• UDOR ceramic plunger pump • Heavy duty 1440 RPM motor • 230 & 400 Volt • User Friendly

• Genuine Honda petrol engine • 10 models from 1800 to 5000 psi • UDOR ceramic plunger pump & gear-box

ELECTROBLAST RANGE • 230 & 400 Volt 1440 RPM motor • 8 models from1600 to 5000 psi

H HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE H Sales & Service Dealers throughout New Zealand • Freephone 0508 78 78 78 • www.aesblasters.co.nz

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Border controls hit spud growers Sudesh Kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

POTATO GROWERS say the recent border controls around Auckland affected supply chains and transit for staff living outside the region.

Also, the closure of Auckland fruit and vegetable shops during Level 3 last month led to a food surplus and waste among growers.

Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge says the industry swiftly adapted to lockdown alert Level 3 in Pukekohe and Level 2 elsewhere, just as they did during the first lockdown earlier this year.

“There have been difficulties, with border controls in Pukekohe/ Auckland, which have hindered transit for staff,” he told Hort News.

“Sadly, the Government has again not allowed fresh produce

3

EVIDENCE OF SPUD DUMPING POTATOES NZ has filed a tariff application with the Government for frozen fries imported from Europe.

Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge says the application was based on evidence.

The tariff application is sitting with Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and is under investigation.

“We made the application based on evidence of price and volume dumping from Europe into NZ,” says Claridge.

“We wouldn’t have been able to make the application without evidence, so yes we have seen and collected the evidence.”

shops to open during Level 3, which has again meant difficulties for supply chains and potentially this sort of thing will lead to food surplus and food waste.

“In saying that, growers have given surplus to food banks and charitable activities as they always

do.”

HortNZ’s plea to the Government for fruit and veggie shops to remain open during the Level 3 fell on deaf ears.

In New Zealand there are multiple ways fresh fruit and vegetables are available for sale to the general public. The

Potatoes NZ says domestic NZ fresh and frozen fries sales will have been impacted by the closure of hospitality in this Level 3 response in the Auckland region.

majority of these sales are made through large supermarket chains and independent fresh fruit and vegetable retailers, at a market share of approximately 80% and 20% respectively. However, in

Auckland independent retailers represent 60% of sales of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The closure of Auckland fast food outlets and restaurants also dealt a blow.

Claridge says domestic NZ fresh and frozen fries sales will have been impacted by the closure of hospitality in this Level 3 response in the Auckland region.

“It is too early to see

the economic impact on our sales data,” he says.

Claridge expects domestic sales to be affected in the coming months by hospitality activity, business closures and consumer activities.

Entrust™

NATURALYTE™

INSECTICIDE

A force of nature Stop pests in their tracks with Entrust, the naturallyderived product that’s been providing organic growers class leading insect control for more than a decade.

With its unique mode of action and powerful active ingredient spinosad, Entrust stops insects feeding immediately, helping protect the quality and yield of your crop.

Bio-Gro certified, IPM compatible, and suitable for use across a wide range of crops, its the natural choice for organic operations.

Talk to your agricultural merchant or call 0800 803 939.

Visit us at corteva.co.nz

®, ™ Trademarks of DuPont, Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer and affiliated companies or their respective owners.

COR_HRTENT_DOW0505

4

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

NZ-Spanish collaboration produces a ‘green’ red apple Scientists from Plant and Food Research have helped develop what is arguably the world's first climate change apple. But as Peter Burke reports this was actually a by-product of their original research project.

TWENTY YEARS ago, a group of plant breeders from Hawkes Bay met with researchers from the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) in Catalonia in Spain to discuss the possibility of breeding a variety of apple that would thrive in hot summer climates such as Spain.

Fast forward two decades and their efforts have come to fruition with the release of the first apple from years of research and development.

Dr Richard Volz, who now heads the project in NZ, says the outcome is a tremendous achievement.

He has spent more than four decades working on various scientific projects relating to apples and pears – including work on production and post-harvest – before becoming involved in genetics and plant breeding.

“It was pretty obvious to my predecessor when he visited Spain in the early 2000s that the varieties of apples and pears that were growing there weren’t very well adapted to the hot growing conditions,” Voltz told Hort News.

“The Spanish researchers came to NZ and eventually an agreement was signed between the two organisations and the plant breeding programme began.”

The idea was to breed a new apple variety that would thrive in hot summer climates by selecting the best plant material from both Spain and NZ. Voltz says NZ’s contribution has been to select NZ selections and cultivars that might perform well as parents and carry out crosses amongst them in NZ. The seed from these crosses were

Are you hitting your target market?

Contact your local sales representative for more information Auckland

Stephen Pollard ....... Ph 021-963 166

Waikato

Ted Darley ................ Ph 021-832 505

Wellington

Ron Mackay ............ Ph 021-453 914

Christchurch Kaye Sutherland .... Ph 021-221 1994 ■ BREAKING NEWS ■ MACHINERY REVIEWS ■ MANAGEMENT STORIES ■ AND MUCH MORE...

HORTNEWS

RURAL NEWS

sent to scientists at IRTA in Spain, where they grew out the seedlings in their hot climate conditions and selected the best based on fruit quality and productivity. Some crosses were also carried out in Spain using pollen from NZ apples onto commercial cultivars.

“So not only did we do the crossings here.

We helped them establish the breeding up there because they didn’t have any breeding personnel who specialised in apples and pears,” Voltz adds.

“We set up strategies and systems to allow for the production of the new variety to occur as quickly as possible. We also trained their staff and this is still ongoing,” he says.

The new hot climate apple is now being grown in Catalonia and, according to Volz, looks very promising. He says it’s a fully red apple, is very sweet and has a unique texture, which he says is moderately firm but very crisp.

“It’s a very juicy apple which is very unusual in such a hot climate – normally we tend to find them a little bit dry. It has very good storage ability,

Dr Richard Volz says the outcome of the NZ/Spanish apple research project has been a tremendous achievement.

THE BENEFITS FOR NZ

Dr Richard Volz agrees that as well as being the first apple bred for hot climates it has unintentionally become an apple for the age of climate change.

He says plantings of the new apple in NZ are a number of years away due to plant import pathways. NZ-based T&G

which is pretty critical for a modern apple that has to be shipped to export markets as well as being sold domestically.”

Global has been appointed as the commercialisation partner for new varieties coming out of the programme. Volz says there are also other factors, such as the new apple variety passing strict quarantine requirements to ensure that it does not bring any unwanted pests and diseases into NZ.

Volz says it appears that the collaboration between Spain and NZ is quite unique in that it involves apple breeders

But he believes the advent of an apple that will grow well in hot climates is a benefit to NZ, and other growers will be interested in the performance of this apple.

Volz adds that further trials are being undertaken to prove the apple will adapt to NZ’s cool climate conditions.

from hot and temperate – or cooler – climates working together to develop new cultivars.

He adds that in the

past, NZ has collaborated with breeders in France, the USA and UK – all of which have similar climates to NZ.

Take the safe option.

Choose KVH certified kiwifruit plants from the PSA-free Tasman region.

When it comes to kiwifruit, being born and raised in the clean PSA-free South Island environment immediately makes ours a healthy and safe bet.

But that’s only half the story.

We are committed to the health of the kiwifruit industry by being part of the KVH Plant Certification Scheme.

We grow Bruno seedlings and cuttinggrown Bounty rootstocks, and are able to grow grafted plants to order.

For flexibility of planting time, we split our production between container grown and field grown plants.

For information please contact Elizabeth Lonie, 027 464 0474. elizabeth@waimeanurseries.co.nz

TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

www.waimeanurseries.co.nz

Every seed, every season we’re there with you.

We’ve worked with agribusinesses for decades, growing a vast team of industry specialists. Including agribusiness managers who know the local area better than the woodgrain on their desks.

Because we come to you. We know that to give the right support, and help you adapt with the times, we should know your business as well as you do.

WES1154

Want to meet with your local manager? westpac.co.nz/agricontact

Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply to Westpac products and services. Eligibility and lending criteria apply to some Westpac product and services. Westpac New Zealand Limited.

6

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Kiwifruit sector urged to ramp up capital planning A NEW report is calling on kiwifruit growers to ramp up capital planning discussions with the postharvest segment (PHS) providers and banks.

In the report, The Time for Capital Planning is Nigh – Funding the Expansion of New Zealand’s Kiwifruit PostHarvest Infrastructure, agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank says global demand for Zespri kiwifruit is forecast to rise to 300 million trays by 2028.

“To meet this anticipated jump in demand, the production of New Zealand-grown Zespri kiwifruit will need to increase to around 225 million trays over this period with the

balance coming from Zespri’s global supply program grown under licence outside of New Zealand,” says report author, Rabobank senior horticultural analyst Hayden Higgins.

“This required lift in production of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit represents a 46% increase on 2019 volumes.

“While the industry is currently doing what it can to optimise existing infrastructure and expand production capacity, Zespri expects between $700 million and $750 million of capital expenditure will be required to handle 225 million trays of kiwifruit by 2028.”

Higgins believes

both bank debt and shareholder equity will be required to fund this new infrastructure.

“Fundamental to supporting this expansion will be the capacity of the PHS to borrow from banks and – given the strong recent performance of the sector over recent seasons – the sector appears well placed to do so,” he explains.

“The PHS will also have to source equity, and our modelling suggests this will need to be more than onethird (approximately $250 million) of the forecast capital expenditure.”

Higgins says kiwifruit growers have a vested interest in investing in the supply chain and are

Rabobank says global demand for Zespri kiwifruit is forecast to rise to 300 million trays by 2028.

therefore the most likely source of the new equity required.

“Ultimately, growers have three alternative paths they can take with regard to funding the new equity needed for PHS infrastructure,” he adds.

“Firstly, they could choose to directly invest and become shareholders of post-harvest operations and fund this from their

own orchard operations.

Secondly, they could choose not to invest but potentially pay an increased packing charge to support a dividend stream suitable to nongrower investors. And finally, they may end up with a combination of the two.”

Higgins says with these options in front of them, growers should be

HORTNEWS Introducing Hort News, a national publication serving the needs of our booming horticulture sector.

Distributed with the leading national farming publication Rural News, Hort News will be delivered to all key horticulture regions nationwide.

It is the complete solution for readers and advertisers, covering every aspect of the wider horticulture industry – news, agribusiness, management, markets, machinery and technology.

looking to engage with industry participants to plan for this future funding requirement.

“Communication of strategy between growers and the post-harvest segment will be essential and growers should be engaging with their PHS providers to understand their plans to participate in the infrastructure expansion, how they expect this

will be funded and their options for participation.”

He adds that communication with financiers will also be essential.

“Banks will want to understand a grower’s strategy and if it includes expanding production and owning shares or even owning shares without expanding production.”

HORTNEWS

New apple ‘dazzles’ Chinese consumers – Page 4

0 (print) ISSN 2624-349 4 (online) ISSN 2624-350

! d i v o C g n i m Ta LNEWS.CO.NZ WWW.RURA

E 11 JULY 2020, ISSU

Sudesh Kissun

lnews.co.nz sudeshk@rura

has URE industry THE HORTICULT wn Covid-19 lockdo come out of the with better people more resilient and management skills.

NZ ble Vegeta of That’s the view kumara ville Darga chairman and Bruin. grower Andre de way growers and He describes the lace to new workp workers adapted lockdown as “fanrules during the heradapted a “toget tastic”. Growers with apart” approach ness while being ce social dispracti to workers asked . The workers farms on tancing while rose the occasion. a farm, harvestOn de Bruin’s kumar d to ed, screens erecte ers were modifi , sorters and the separate the driver on number of people bin person. The eight to from d reduce a harvester was six. ter is normally “Being on the harves the thing…but during quite the social and were barriers lockdown there ” he ’t see each other, workers couldn

Andre kumara grower an and Dargaville workers adapted s and Vegetable NZ chairm es the way grower de Bruin describ wn as “fantastic”. during the lockdo

told Hort News. y their responsibilit n’t “They realised normally would doing this for their Growers who each and that we were nging ideas with and food safety. talk were excha seasafety, our safety change was that fantastic.” other. One huge “The team was ng and the hired for planti for him this is sonal workers, e De Bruin says becom had how – bles, ble sector harvesting vegeta story of the vegeta e. “When there rs. to understand requir essential worke grown vegetables growers worked and attitude of workchange or close for that to be ue their businesses De Bruin says the is any potential businesses open, ed. ments to contin navigating implemented dramatically chang believes e are willing job about sfully peopl BRUIN their It’s to ted, DE succes E ers good. disrup for ANDR how they of it before the lockhalf a mile e your business driving to one from over, but “On the last day g to stand in a queue your way to ensur Covid-19 is far changes. He recalls ng meeting and greetin supered the way we ional next week on the first morni down they were long to get it from the remains funct has already chang his kumara farms were told that’s wn. each other and they markets.” and next year.” do business. of the Level 4 lockdo I lines NZ’s do that. people buy one thing est day of my life, last time they can He says this under De Bruin says He says the way “It was the strang nge and top challe of everythat the cer and is to ed. d up road produ a chang on the “They rose credential as Covid-19 has prove their food has work, was the only car they brought to wants safe, adapting to a d at home. I have the dedication “Growers are food.

New Zealanders one had cars parke says. fantastic. it’s changing y New Zealanding like that,” he day-after-day, was er fresh and qualit new normal and never seen anyth all in this togeth g through an as other “They knew were on a weekly basis “It was like drivin growgood.” phone between and there was heavy and that was really talking” on the wn. abandoned town got lockdo e.” ry went into ing the diseas sibility…that I have of ers as the count - tors for spread feeling of respon sitfood but operat there was “a lot for all these people De Bruin recalls only to supply people were not vecto do this right we s. er that ting in their house not ing in a mann responsibility, “We had a big

OD

CHANGE FOR GO

YOUR E? PROUD OHFER ITAG FAMILY L.

MUTUA be a mutual. what it means to remained true to instead of Since 1905, we’ve into the business around ng profits back ask For example, putti ets. If that sounds good to you, 466. pock 366 rs’ on 0800 shareholde r still, call us now about us. Or bette country. the good of the We’re here for

THE FEELING’S

FMG0862HNFPS_H

To book your advert contact your local sales rep

• It’s the one-stop way to reach the horticultural sector • News and information for all types of growers • 10,000 nationwide distribution • Sent out with the trusted and established publication Rural News

Publishers of

RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

Contact: STEPHEN POLLARD Auckland Sales Representative Ph 021 963 166 TED DARLEY Waikato Sales Representative Ph 021 832 505 RON MACKAY Wellington Sales Representative Ph 021 453 914 KAYE SUTHERLAND Christchurch Sales Representative Ph 021 221 1994

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

New Varroa heat treatment method causes a buzz

7

Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

BEES PLAY a vital role in the pollination of most commercially grown crops, but the arrival of a Varroa mite infestation usually results in a colony failure and a huge loss of production in the growing crop.

Now a group of Waikato-based inventors look to have addressed the problem and, along the way, walked off with the Grassroots Prototype and the James and Wells Innovation awards at the recent Fieldays Online Innovations Competition.

The Hivesite team, made up of father and son Alistair and Gareth Bell – alongside James Emslie and Vijay Prema – have developed an in-hive treatment that autonomously uses heat treatment to destroy the Varroa mite.

Originally, the team set out to detect the mites in a colony using camera and artificial Intelligence.

However, they quickly realised that finding a solution to break the life cycle of the infestation was a more important path to follow.

Their solution, which avoids the use of pesticides that can decrease honey production, consists of a heater panel – powered by a solar panel located under the brood zone of the hive. The heating element delivers a temperature of 39 to 45 degrees C to the area, killing the mite, but not the bees – which already use temperature to protect themselves.

An integral micro-

Hivesite’s Varroa treatment solution is based on heater panel – powered by a solar panel – that delivers a temperature of 39 to 45 degrees C, which kills the mite but not the bees.

processor automatically raises the temperature in the hive every three weeks for a period of two hours, to coincide with the 21 days it normally takes a bee to gestate from an egg to an adult.

In the case of the mites, one foundress or female can create seven offspring –usually found in the brood area.

These are destroyed at an early stage by the heat, thereby breaking the breeding cycle of the pest.

With one solar panel able to power four, 10-frame Langstroth hives, the system is particularly suited to commercial operators – particularly those operating in remote areas.

With this in mind, 12 hives will be fitted with the technology for testing during the new honey season. Future developments will see the development of real-time, remote hive monitoring.

“We were impressed using technology to enable an efficient and innovative and self-con-

tained system that uses heat to kill Varroa without the need of chemicals,” the awards judges said.

“As well as providing a non-chemical approach to addressing the Varroa mite problem, a critical

issue for apiarists both home and abroad, we were impressed by the potential for added-value

through applications enabled by the technology which extended beyond the core purpose.”

SHEDS

greenwoodinfo.co.nz

Exclusive info@greenwoodinfo.co.nz agent

0800 347259

ELECTRONIC PORTABLE PRUNING SHEARS

POWERFUL

LIGHTWEIGHT

Swiss Precision. Made to Last.

FAST

HEINIGER NEW ZEALAND Exclusive distributor and authorised service centre for FELCO in New Zealand.

Contact us to find a FELCO dealer near you.

(03) 349 8282 | heiniger.co.nz

Cut Diameter 35mm

Weight 810g

Length 255mm

8

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Apples see the light Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

A NEW innovative apple orchard design has seen a doubling of yield, an improvement in fruit quality, promising environmental benefits and ease of fruit picking as well.

For the last six years, scientists from Plant and Food Research, based in Hawkes Bay, have been working on an MBIE funded research programme called Future Orchard Planting Systems (FOPS), led by Dr Stuart Tustin. The goal of the research has been to design an orchard system that allows the fruiting canopy to capture more sunlight with the hope that it would lead to

improved production and sustainability.

The present best conventional apple trees and orchard designs only utilise between 60% to 65% of the available sunlight.

But according to Dr Ben van Hooijdonk, their new orchard design utilises up to 85% of the sunlight energy, and they hope they can take this to 90%.

“The FOPS programme is based on an accumulation of knowledge over a number of years, but hasn’t been done internationally,” van Hooijdonk told Hort News.

“It was well known that there was a limitation in our present orchard designs about how much sunlight they capture. But no one had been daring enough to narrow the

spacing of the tree rows, in an attempt to increase sunlight capture and improve yield.”

He says the important innovation is narrowing of the tree rows.

Van Hooijdonk and his colleagues working on the project decided to carry out trials that would see the rows of trees a mere two metres apart. They also went a stage further and trialled rows 1.5m apart.

The purpose of the 1.5m spacing was to test the biology of the plant.

But van Hooijdonk says it’s clear the 2m spacing is the better option for commercial growers.

In the actual rows, the apple trees are planted three metres apart.

Attached to 3.5m tall

Plant and Food Research’s Dr Ben van Hooijdonk (L) and Dr Stuart Tustin have been working on an MBIE funded research programme called Future Orchard Planting Systems or FOPS.

posts all along the rows are a series of wires to which the apples trees and their stems are firmly attached.

“Each tree is a divided canopy. There are two stems and we lay them down in opposing directions along the row, like

EDNA CALENDAR 2021

EDNA!!

2021 Edna Calendar ❱❱ $20 including post & packaging ❱❱ 12 of Edna’s best cartoons ❱❱ 330mm x 240mm, spiral bound

ORDER NOW! T: 09-307 0399 E: julieb@ruralnews.co.nz

a grape vine cordon,” he explains. “From these we take 10 vertical stems per tree and they are spaced 30cm apart in what are in effect mini trees, which allows for maximum light penetration right down into the bottom of the canopies and that is what contributes to higher yields and better quality.”

Van Hooijdonk says the outcome of the trial

thus far has been outstanding and some innovative growers are already converting their orchards to the new system. With a narrower spacing between the rows (2m) and a wider spacing between the trees (3m), only moderate tree densities are required per hectare.

Van Hooijdonk says the optimum planting is 1667 trees per ha. He

says, at present, a good grower with a conventional orchard system may expect to have a yield of about 100 tonnes per ha and an average grower between 60 and 80 tonnes per ha.

“But on one FOPS orchard where they are trialling the Jazz variety of apple, the yield was 180 tonnes per hectare,” he says.

NOT JUST YIELD WHILE THE new orchard design has created some amazing new numbers in terms of yield, it has also revealed some other benefits, of which quality is one.

Dr Ben van Hooijdonk says normally growers would pick a tree three to four times to ensure that only fruit that has reached the required colour are harvested.

“What we’ve seen, because of the vastly improved light environment, is much more uniform populations of fruit that ripen and colour more evenly,” he told Hort News. “Consequently, we are picking a lot more fruit in the first two harvests. Overall, the quality is less variable and we are also achieving better size and dry matter, which is a metric for eating quality.”

Another timely facet of the design is that trees are two metres apart – perfect in terms of social distancing with Covid-19 being around. Because the trees are not bushy they can be picked by staff standing on platforms as opposed

to ladders. The platforms are safer and easier for staff to work from.

The new orchard design will, however, require some rethinking when it comes to the use of technology. For example, many of the robotic harvesting machines are large – smaller ones will need to be designed.

Smaller tractors and equipment will also be needed to get down the narrower two metre rows.

The FOPS programme was not just set up to look at apple orchard design. Pears and summer fruits such as cherries and apricots were included and van Hooijdonk says there are promising outcomes for cherries. He says avocado growers have also expressed interest in the system.

He says while the results to date are positive, the test will be to see how the orchards using this system perform in the next eight to ten years but adds if the results they are achieving now continue they have a winner.

9

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Late RSE extensions welcomed HORTICULTURE New Zealand says it welcomed increased Government support and flexibility for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers who are still in New Zealand waiting for repatriation back to the Pacific, which was made back in July.

However, it says these decisions should have come a lot earlier.

“We really needed this decision back in April. While local communities have rallied to support RSE workers, government delays have caused RSE workers and their employers unnecessary anxiety and cost,” HortNZ chief executive Mike Chapman says.

“Immigration New Zealand is now providing the RSE workers who are still in New Zealand with the flexibility to move around the country to take up other horticulture jobs – as well as jobs in

ANOTHER EXTENSION IN LATE August, the Government announced that it is extending RSE visas by six months, allowing these workers to stay and work in New Zealand.

The extension took effect from 18 August 2020 and will apply to all RSE workers whose visas expire between 18 August and 31 December 2020. RSE workers who wish to continue to work in New Zealand for the same purpose after this additional six months will also be able to apply to stay longer. The requirement to return to their home country between seasons has been lifted in light of Covid travel restrictions.

other industries.”

Chapman says it means that the RSE workers who have been stranded in NZ won’t have the extra time they have spent in the country count against them, when they return to New Zealand next season.

“At the same time, RSE

employers can now apply for in-kind assistance to help them provide the RSE workers still here with basic needs, such as food and accommodation, under the Government’s Assistance to Foreign Nationals Impacted by Covid-19 Programme.”

Chapman says out of

Horticulture NZ’s Mike Chapman says government delays have caused RSE workers and their employers unnecessary anxiety and cost.

the approximately 9000 RSE workers still in New Zealand, 4000 are waiting to get home.

“Summerfruit NZ, NZ Apples and Pears, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated and HortNZ

have worked in partnership with the Government to find ways to get these workers home safely and as quickly as possible. More than 1000 RSE workers have made it home thanks to these

efforts, which continue.”

He says that while it is good that these workers are now going home, it is important that the RSE scheme continues as it supports both New Zealand and the Pacific

nations.

“Horticulture will contribute significantly to the post-Covid recovery, and the RSE scheme is a cornerstone of that recovery.

“The scheme has operated for more than 10 years. It has ensured that the New Zealand horticulture industry has been able to grow and provide permanent employment for thousands of kiwis.”

Chapman says as horticulture spearheads New Zealand post-Covid recovery, skilled RSE workers in similar numbers to this year will be needed to complement any local entering the horticulture industry for the first time.

“The RSE scheme is vital to the Pacific,” he adds. “The scheme enables these workers to earn money to support their families back home, set up businesses, and build storm proof houses, schools and community facilities.”

DEUTZ-FAHR 5DS/DV/DF

The feature rich specialist tractor.

• Market leading hydraulic systems with open centre and load sensing variants available providing a maximum flow of up to 131 l/min to cater for the most demanding implements

af

ASK ABOUT

FIN

AN

ns

OUR DEALS

• New front support ensures an axle steering angle up to 60 degrees • Large selection of models available ranging from 75 to 113 hp ensures there will be a model to suit your requirements

a ull r nge

of

• All new cabin design on TTV models offers a flat operators platform for easier access and unrivalled comfort no matter which variant you choose

C E o p tio

Most cab space in its class.

From vineyard and orchard work to gardening, landscaping and municipal work, the new and completely redesigned and rebuilt 5DS, 5DV, and 5DF series are the highly innovative specialist tractors that will surpass your exacting demands.

Deutz Fahr NZ Excellent view of over-row implements

PF96266

Phone 0800 801 888 | deutztractors.co.nz | powerfarming.co.nz ** Terms and conditions apply. Go to deutztractors.co.nz/trydeutz for detailed terms and conditions.

Intuitive operating controls

Low centre of gravity for safety

10

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Water and labelling high on hort sector’s election wish list David Anderson

NEW ZEALAND’S horticulture industry has set out its wishes for the upcoming election campaign, covering water, climate change, country of origin labelling and labour issues.

Industry body Hort NZ is asking that any future government ensures the horticulture sector can develop “within a supportive framework that enables sustainable growth”.

It says the sector currently contributes more than $6 billion to NZ’s economy, is the country’s third largest export industry and employs approximately 60,000 people.

“What horticulture needs in order to continue its success in producing fresh and healthy food for New Zealand and export markets is quite simple.”

Hort NZ says the whole of New Zealand urgently needs significant investment in commercially viable water storage schemes, for urban supply, growing fruit and vegetables, and improving freshwater quality by enhancing river and stream flows.

“These schemes cannot be modest

and need to accommodate previously unknown drought conditions across the country,” it says. “We ask for a nationwide assessment of water infrastructure to see if it is adequate to support horticultural expansion, followed by construction of water capture and storage schemes to enable the growing of healthy food.”

In regard to water allocation, Hort NZ says this should not constrain future land use and land management flexibility.

“Rather, it should enable growers to respond and take into account the positive and negative effects that landuse type and property scale have on environmental, social, economic and cultural values, within a catchment context.”

The industry body is urging an incoming government to adopt an allocation model that provides certainty, while allowing for variation between catchments. “Transitioning to the new allocation model needs to ensure grower viability and provide flexibility to enable development within environmental limits.”

Hort NZ says it has welcomed the current Government’s pragmatic approach to achieving freshwater quality outcomes.

“It acknowledges that growers know how to achieve the outcomes wanted while continuing to ensure that New Zealand has food security for a growing population.”

However, it wants recognition of the importance of commercial vegetable growing through a National Environmental Standard for Commercial Vegetable Production.

Hort NZ says growers currently lack some of the techniques and technologies needed for successful climate change adaption, while maintaining, if not increasing, food production and exports.

“Government direction coupled with investment and incentives for research and development is necessary if New Zealand is not to slip behind its international competitors,” it says.

It wants more government direction and investment in Crown Research Institutes to reflect the R&D needs of horticulture.

Hort NZ points out that grower developed, audited Farm Environment Plans are a powerful tool for growers to use to achieve climate change adaption, improve freshwater quality, reduce environmental impact and provide evidence for regulators.

“Farm Environment Plans are a pragmatic way for growers to achieve environmental outcomes. We ask for national and catchment wide support for Farm Environment Plans, and investment in their rollout and associated grower outreach activities.”

It wants government recognition that growers are in the best place to manage climate change and freshwater.

“Growers’ Farm Environment Plans should be exempt from horticulture consultant sign off, provided the grower has attended industry workshops.”

Horticulture New Zealand’s vision – through GAP schemes – is to see ‘just one auditor come up the drive’ – and that this auditor be able to conduct audits remotely.

“We ask that central and local government recognise GAP schemes.”

Meanwhile, it says horticulture’s growth has been hampered by labour shortages across growing, harvesting, value-add processing and transportation. “We ask that the reform of the education and training system needs is completed, while ensuring that the system reflects post-Covid requirements for flexible delivery and innovation.”

Hort NZ also points out that the sector relies heavily on seasonal workers for harvest and pruning.

“We acknowledge the current situation with the border. But long-term, we ask that the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is expanded to support the continued growth of horticulture.”

The industry is also pushing for a firm date to be imposed for Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) to begin.

Hort NZ believes more delays to it becoming mandatory are a “misalignment” with government calls to buy and support local.

“We ask that the government makes Country of Origin Labelling mandatory by 1 January 2021.”

DO YOU WANT THE BEST PAYROLL SYSTEM FOR YOUR ORCHARD? AgriSmart is a complete one-stop Payroll, Timesheet, Job Costing, and Invoicing solution for Horticulturists.

Built from the ground up for Horticulture Fits in with the way you work Built-in timesheets mean you don't have to jump through multiple systems to complete your payroll Offline timesheets, flexible piece rates, hourly rates, bonuses (both linked to hours worked and non-hourly related), paid breaks (either included or in addition to the piece rates), and automatic controls preventing breaching the minimum hourly rate, are all covered Integrates with Xero

Improve accuracy & reduce payroll admin time by as much as 75% AgriSmart I Timesheet & Payroll Software

0800 110 172

www.agrismart.co.nz

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

FEPs at a glance sive New Zealand regulatory expectations for FEP content and implementation.

As a result, NZGAP has developed the Environment Management System (EMS) add-on with the purpose of supporting growers to meet regulatory expectations for an FEP as an extension to their existing GAP system.

The Good Management Practices (minimum requirements) and Best Management Practice (aspirational environmental outcomes) identified in the EMS are incorporated from relevant industry guidelines and Codes of Practice, which have been developed from evidencebased research and have been tested with New Zealand growing systems.

In a similar way to how NZGAP is benchmarked to and recognised by GLOBALG.A.P. and the Food Act 2014, the EMS add-on has been benchmarked to regional and national FEP requirements and is already formally recognised by Environment Canterbury.

This means that growers can meet multiple market and regulatory outcomes via the one NZGAP integrated assurance system. NZGAP is now seeking to integrate data from the development and implementation of FEPs into reports for growers, catchment groups and industry bodies to support telling of the horticulture story via our ‘joining the dots’ framework.

Damien Farrelly

FARM ENVIRONMENT Plans (FEPs) are now recognised in legislation as a way for growers to assess their environmental risks, act where required and demonstrate progress on environmental objectives.

The objective of FEPs is to minimise the impact of horticulture and farming on the ecological health and amenity value of New Zealand’s waterways.

In addition to farm maps, an FEP includes the following management areas: • Soil • Nutrients • Irrigation • Waterways • Biodiversity In the near future, agricultural emissions (e.g. nitrous oxide from fertiliser use) are also likely to be included in FEPs to support growers with meeting the Zero Carbon Act 2019 and He Waka Eke Noa (a primary sector partnership to reduce on-farm agricultural emissions).

Growers and the horticulture industry are already very familiar with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). An FEP is essentially an extension to this existing assurance system.

The primary focus of NZGAP and GLOBALG.A.P. certification is food safety risk assessment and management. While there are elements of environmental management in these standards, they do not currently meet the exten-

For more information on FEPs and the EMS: visit www.nzgap.co.nz • Damien Farrelly – NZGAP and food safety manager at Horticulture New Zealand.

Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) are now recognised in legislation as a way for growers to assess their environmental risks and take action in regards to areas like irrigation.

Farmer Brad Burling and his daughter

TOGETHER WE VALUE YOUR TIME

Growing pressures to operate in our changing environment places greater demands on resources.

And just like water, time is something that farmers don’t have a lot of.

We’ve focused on giving you back control through FieldNET®. This industry leading solution offers full

Read us until the cows come home!

remote control of your entire irrigation operation.

So for less time in the field and more time doing the

READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER Breaking news Management Animal health Agribusiness Machinery & Products reviews ❱❱ Competitions... and much more ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱

important things in life, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer today.

HEADER Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 15

HEADER Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 23

RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

www.ruralnews.co.nz

HEADER Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu.

PAGE 24

www.zimmaticanz.com

Zimmatic® is a registered trademark of the Lindsay Corporation. © 2020 Lindsay. All Rights Reserved

11

12

HORTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Kubota tractors give garlic grower strong performance Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

FAMILY RUN Murphy NZ Ltd, formally Marlborough Garlic, is New Zealand’s largest garlic and shallot producer.

The garlic is grown on leased ground near Darfield and Sheffield in Canterbury, with shallots produced in Marlborough.

“With 95% of output being sold in the domestic market, the chances are if you buy New Zealand garlic in the supermarket, it will be ours,” says field manager Rob Fisher. “Along with fresh garlic and shallots, we sell Garlic Noir – which is slow-cooked and fermented black garlic.”

Fisher says the move south into Canterbury

Murphy NZ Ltd uses a fleet of five Kubota tractors to do most of the work required to grow the garlic and shallots they produce.

was necessary because it is important to grow garlic in fresh ground.

“We need to change the ground we grow garlic and shallots in every two

years as they are susceptible to white rot, so growing them in fresh soil helps to protect the health of the crop.”

Murphy NZ Ltd uses a

fleet of five Kubota tractors to do most of the work required to grow the pungent bulbs, made up of a 125-hp Kubota M126GX, two 110-hp

Kubota M110GXs, and two older Kubota M95Xs. “We like Kubota tractors because of their versatility. They give us the ability to easily vary our

PTO and ground speeds,” Fisher explains.

“The three-tiered gearbox gives us high, medium and low ranges, with a total of 24 speeds.

So, we can always find the right gear for every application, along with enough hydraulic power to do everything we need.”

Local Kubota dealer, Norwood Blenheim installed a Trimble GPS and self-steer system in the two M110GX tractors, that in turn access a satellite based RTK signal to achieve 2cm accuracy.

The two M110GX tractors, based in Canterbury, run precision planters and specialist garlic harvesters, exploiting their traits of great manoeuvrability to deliver tight headlands turns.

The larger M126GX and smaller M95Xs are based in Marlborough.

The M126GX takes on tasks such as power harrowing, discing and spraying.

These jobs are normally undertaken by contractors in the southern operation.

Equipped with a frontend loader, the M126GX is proving to be user friendly and versatile.

It has a cabin that has plenty of room and lots of glass for 360-degree visibility.

“It also has great fuel economy-an important consideration for us, as we grow the shallots in Awatere, which is 45 minutes from the yard,” Fisher says. www.kubota.co.nz

Introducing our mobile app Crop lifecycle focused

Tailored for you, know when to action.

Discover Biolchim products Maximise your productivity.

Be notified of best practises Working with Biolchim prodcuts has never been so easy.