Hort News 26 January 2021 by Rural News Group

HORTNEWS JANUARY 2021, ISSUE 14

Hemp trial leads to skincare exports – Page 11

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

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Not a very cherry start!

Nigel Malthus

WHAT WAS expected to be a bumper cherry crop this year has been badly hit by untimely wet weather. A three-day rainstorm started on New Year’s Day and drenched the prime orchard areas of Central Otago. Fruit has split because of their excess water uptake, with Summerfruit NZ estimating that up to half the region’s cherry crop has been spoilt – resulting in the loss of $50 million in export revenue. Flooding also caused damage to buildings and plantings in the Earnscleugh area, just across the Clutha River from Clyde and Alexandra, when the Fraser River burst its banks.

Summerfruit NZ believes the damage to trees will potentially affect next season’s crop as well. Veteran orchardist Harry Roberts’ Earnscleugh properties narrowly escaped the flooding, but he says the effects of the rain are still being felt. His family orchard consists of three blocks growing cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums for both export and local markets. The wet ground means the cherries were continuing to crack even into mid-January. Roberts told Hort News that when he was showing a television news crew around “…the cherries were just opening up in front of us”. He says a lot of these trees won’t even be picked.

“It doesn’t matter what fruit it is – it’ll get damaged when you get too much rain. When you get over 100mm of rain there’s not much that survives,” he explains. “Different blocks have different problems, we walked out of two blocks yesterday that were just hammered, and to sort through it, it takes a lot.” Roberts says while he narrowly escaped the flooding, it was a close thing. “It caused a problem for about three days, but we didn’t get the Fraser River water,” he told Hort News. “Our blocks are a wee bit away from that.” Orchardists are now working to try to “salvage some dollars.” “It’s a lot of money going out of the

district and it’s a lot of money for New Zealand,” Roberts adds. “You work 12 months to get a crop on a tree and it’s bloody disastrous for some people.” Summerfruit NZ chief executive Richard Palmer says the persistent and heavy rain was something not experienced in 40 years. It came in a season when growers were concerned that Covid would leave them without enough overseas pickers. Palmer told Hort News that growers had been starting to feel optimistic that most of their fruit would be picked thanks to the “fantastic” response from New Zealanders and stranded backpackers helping with the harvest. However, he says with the current good weather pickers are helping with

the rest of the harvest. Mainly cherries and some apricots were affected by the storm. However, other summerfruit was looking good, with peaches and nectarines now coming on about a week earlier than usual. “It is incredibly sad to see growers lose so much of their crop in this way,” Palmer says. “Growers are working hard to harvest the remainder of the crop, and with good weather ahead there is still substantial work for pickers and packers.” He added that the sector also feels for all the people who came to help with the harvest as they had responded “so generously to the industry’s call for help.”

THE BLUE(S) BERRY BROTHERS! BROCCOLI AND blueberries are the latest agriventure for Hew and Roger Dalrymple (pictured). Best known for their large Manawatu cropping as well as sheep and beef operation, the Dalrymple brothers say their newest horticultural projects are well outside their farming comfort zones. Roger is running a highly sophisticated blueberry operation, while Hew has moved into fresh vegetable production – with broccoli and cabbage the focus. The Dalrymple family have farmed Waitatapia Station for over 100 years. With lease blocks included, it consists of 2200 hectares, of which 750 are irrigated. About 30 people are employed in the business, and at peak times this can increase. Hew runs the logging and cropping businesses. This involves peas and corn for McCain’s, also potatoes, onions, squash, maize, fodder beet and recently quinoa. Meanwhile, Roger is involved in a state-of-the-art blueberry growing operation, which sees the fruit grown in hydroponic pots in huge tunnel houses. See more on the Dalrymple brothers foray into the horticulture sector; Pages 4 and 5.

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HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

How bright will horticulture’s star shine in 2021? Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

HORTICULTURE HAS the potential to be the brightest star in the primary sector in the coming decade. However, like others in the primary sector, it faces some hurdles during the next few years due to Covid-19. HortNZ chair Barry O’Neil says the sector has got all the elements of success going for it – such as land, climate, great soils and a world that wants to consume NZ horticultural products. But he concedes that the sector still has to get through at least the next couple of years, which he says will be characterised by ongoing disruption to supply chains caused by Covid. O’Neil says shipping schedules are being disrupted and space is limited, which means it is taking longer for perishable goods to get to market. He says exporters depending on air freight have to face the problem of the drop off in flights because only freighters are carrying their cargo now. This has

resulted in a significant increases in costs compared to what was previously the case. “I believe the schedules of shipping and airlines won’t be back into normal in 2021 and it think it will be early days if they can get themselves better placed in 2022,” O’Neil told Hort News. “But even then it will still be a struggle for them. Unfortunately, I think that until we have got confidence in a vaccine I can’t see the situation changing overnight.” O’Neil says some sectors, such the kiwifruit, are better placed than others because Zespri charters a number of ships to carry its produce to Asia and Europe and those direct charters will be less affected. He says other hort sectors have tried this but believes there is a need for smaller groups to work collectively to see if they can also charter refrigerated container ships like Zespri. O’Neil says two other issues also present challenges for the horticulture going forward – labour and water storage. He believes that more effort HortNZ chair Barry O’Neil believes a shortage of both labour and water storage present challenges for the horticulture sector going forward.

NO GUARANTEES WHILE A recent MPI report notes that prices for horticultural exports in 2021 will top the $2 billion mark, there is no guarantee that growers will see extra dollars in their pockets. O’Neill points to rising labour costs and potentially increase freight costs may dampen profits. “The only light at the end of the tunnel is whether the prices for NZ quality, tasty, safe, nutritious product will go up as well,” he told Hort News. “We saw that this past year in a number of our markets where consumers

were willing to pay more for our products because of the health aspect of them and the change to a more fresh and healthy diet.” O’Neill says everyone is concerned about the global economy due to Covid and whether consumers will have that discretionary spend in their pockets especially if they don’t have full time work. “On the face of it, unfortunately, it looks like growers will have increased costs and possibly not the corresponding increase in returns.”

needs to be put into working with Maori in respect of horticulture and water storage. He cites the Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust scheme in Northland as an example that could be replicated around the country. The water from this storage facility is used for horticulture and is working well and is a win-win. “I think the Government will more likely support that type of water storage approach, whereas in the past there has been concern about the end user of the water.” Not surprisingly labour looms as another big challenge for the horticulture, with a reduction in

the number of recognised seasonal employers (RSE workers) coming into NZ from the Pacific due to Covid. O’Neil says there is a need for automation to do some of the more physical manual jobs because of the lack of RSE workers. While much has been made of getting NZers to take jobs in horticulture, he says that not all workers are fit enough to handle the physical intensity of some of the work which the RSE workers are capable of doing. There is the issue of money with claims that pay is not always good. However, O’Neill points that there is good money to be made – up to $30 an hour – for people with skills and a good

work ethic. But it’s not only money – the seasonality of the work and need to relocate to do the work is an issue. “For example, cherry growers in Central Otago don’t have a residual labour force that is on their back doorstep to come and pick their cherries,” he told Hort News. “The closest centre is probably Dunedin. “As a sector we have do a whole lot more work on how we can offer permanent roles. For example, if the different horticultural sectors could club together and end up offering effectively permanent work and good accommodation the problem could be solved,” O’Neil says.

HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

Tasman growers given a $100m hail Mary pass Nigel Malthus

THE COST of a freak hailstorm which devastated orchards in the Tasman region on Boxing Day is now estimated at $100 million dollars as the extent of the damage becomes clearer. The “unprecedented” hail pummelled an area spanning Motueka,

LASER SAVES VEGGIES FROM BIRDS Sudesh Kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

says there is nothing that can be done with the damaged fruit. “Nothing that’s got any value. And you’ve got to get it off the tree or it’ll impact next year’s crop.” Heywood’s own orchard lost about 90% of its gold kiwifruit. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says

“Growers can make use of the Rural Support Trust-administered Farm Business Advice Support Fund, to which the Government allocated $200,000 of funding last year.” Riwaka. Tasman, Upper Moutere and into the Motueka Valley for up to half an hour. Hailstones the size of large cherries blanketed the ground so thickly that it remained more than a day later. “It was all through, not just patches here and there,” orchardist and New Zealand Apples and Pears Board director Evan Heywood told Hort News. “There wasn’t anyone in that area that didn’t get hit really hard.” He estimates that 40% of the district’s apples and 50% of kiwifruit has been lost. Heywood

affected crops include apples (a total estimated area of 800ha with a complete loss expected for 300ha and an average loss of 30% for the rest), kiwifruit (loss estimated at 2 million trays of gold kiwifruit and 300,000 trays of green kiwifruit), hops (estimated at 100150ha with around 50% loss) and grapes (40ha with 40-50% loss). “After the hard task of removing damaged fruit, growers will need to prepare their trees and vines for a slow recovery over the next year for the 2022 harvest,” O’Connor

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says such weather events are unpredictable by nature and determining the long-term effect is difficult because of the growing cycle.

says. “Having spoken to growers I understand the hard work ahead of them. Weather events are unpredictable by nature and determining the long-term effect is difficult because of the growing cycle.” He says support was already available for those affected. “For example, growers can make use of the Rural Support Trust-

administered Farm Business Advice Support Fund, to which the Government allocated $200,000 of funding last year,” O’Connor explains. “For a qualifying grower, the fund will provide up to $6000 to pay for financial or business advice from an independent consultant. The RSTs will provide up to $3000, depending on an assessment of need,

and the relevant bank will match that dollar for dollar.” He says the Ministry of Social Development has assistance available for both growers and staff whose income has been hit, while Inland Revenue has tax flexibility and income assistance options. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

AN AUSTRALIAN horticulture business is using laser technology to combat bird damage in their celery and lettuce crops. Gazzola Farms installed the laser bird deterrent in 2018 and says a few months later it decreased bird presence by up to 90%. Farm manager Dean Gazzola says only after a few months of using the laser bird deterrent device, results were seen. “We are extremely happy with the system, and I would definitely recommend it to my neighbours as it is easy to use and extremely user-friendly. We will continue to get more until all parts of the farm are covered.” The AVIX Autonomic Mark II, made by European company Bird Control Group, is a fully automated laser bird deterrent device and the essence of the solution lies in the projection of a laser beam that effectively spooks birds without hurting them. The company says birds see the laser beam differently than humans. “We see it as a point of light, but birds see the whole beam. They perceive it as a solid object, like a stick of light, which triggers the danger aspect instinctively and they feel they’re under attack, therefore, this causes them to leave the area.” Gazzola Farms, a family-owned company, is one of the leading vegetable growing operations in Australia. Operating since 1932, it provides a variety of lettuce, celery, and Asian greens to sell across Australia. Based on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Gazzola Farms harvests their crops all year round, which in turn invites intruders onto the farm. The most problematic uninvited guests are wood ducks. Currently, Dean and his brother Alex Gazzola manage over 200ha in Boneo, Victoria. With the large potential crop yield, the threat of wood ducks increased. The brothers frequently find 20-30 ducks per field, with the lettuce and celery destroyed. Dean says this means that overnight Gazzola Farms would lose a couple of hundred dollars worth of lettuce as a consequence of ducks foraging. As a result of the severe damage to their crops, they began the search for a cost and time-effective solution. However, the limitations of the traditional bird control methods were not appealing to Gazzola Farms. An attempt to scare birds away with scare guns, created a noise disturbance for neighbouring properties. Meanwhile, visual methods were not successful as a permanent solution to deter the birds either, as the birds quickly became accustomed to them.

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HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

Brothers of broccoli and blueberries Broccoli and blueberries are the latest agri-venture for brothers Hew and Roger Dalrymple - best known for their large cropping as well as sheep and beef operation, based near the Manawatu township of Bulls. Peter Burke reports on the Dalrymple brothers newest horticultural projects. THE DALRYMPLE brother’s latest forays are well outside their farming comfort zones. Roger is running a highly sophisticated blueberry operation, while Hew has moved into fresh vegetable production – with broccoli and cabbage the focus. Waitatapia Station has been in the Dalrymple family for over 100

years. With lease blocks included, it consists of 2200 hectares, of which 750 are irrigated. About 30 people are employed in the business, and at peak times this can increase. Hew Dalrymple runs the logging and cropping businesses. This involves peas and corn for McCain’s, also potatoes, onions, squash, maize, fodder beet and recently

Hew Dalrymple says growing fresh vegetables is quite different to the crops he’s traditionally grown.

quinoa has been added to the list.

All the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower grown is cut up and processed, mixed in with other veggies and made into different ready pack salads.

However, in the last three years, Hew had an

offer from nearby Marton-based Speirs Foods to produce fresh vegetables for their speciality salad market. He took up the challenge and as a result about 60 hectares of the farm is now devoted to growing broccoli, cabbage and a smaller amount of cauliflower. “They came to us and said this would be great – you guys have got the irrigation and infrastructure and the headspace to get into this new business because you are crop growers,” he told Hort News. When Speirs talk about headspace, they

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likely mean that the Dalrymples, who in all aspects of their farming businesses, make extensive use of technology to improve efficiency and the quality of their stock and crops. The brothers work closely with Massey University on a number of leading-edge research projects. But Hew is quick to point out that growing fresh vegetables is quite different to the crops he’s traditionally grown. He says there is more intensity because they are constantly planting and harvesting all-year-round – unlike the other crops they grow. Labour is an issue and new skills have to be quickly learned which he says they are still learning. “Being with Speirs has the advantage that we are only twenty minutes from their factory and their staff have commented on the freshness of our product,” he told Hort News. All the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower that Waitatapia supplies to Speirs is cut up and processed, mixed in with other veggies and made into different ready pack salads. These are then sold to the Countdown chain of supermarkets, as well as New World, 4 Square and Pak ‘n Save. Some is also

sold in specialist delicatessens. Hew Dalrymple says they also sell on the open market but notes that this is terrible and prices are lower. At present, Waitatapia is producing about 2500 tonnes of cabbage, nearly 2 million head of broccoli plus some cauliflower. The fresh veggie business is run as a separate business unit – with its own manager and staff of about eight people. Hew says about 20% of his time is devoted to the new enterprise. “I’m happy with the step up to fresh vegetables. We have struggled, but it’s now starting to come right,” he told Hort News. “A key point is that being a higher risk operation it needs to make more money on average than the other forms of farming that we do. “We are just starting to get there now and it’s all about getting a whole lot of little things right. But the big plus for us was that when we went into it was that we had a contract to sell the bulk of the vegetables to Speirs,” he says. For Hew Dalrymple, taking on a new challenge is nothing out of the ordinary – the family has been doing this for 100 years.

HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

Bring on the blueberries! WHILE HEW Dalrymple was beginning his journey with broccoli, brother Roger became involved in a state-of-the-art blueberry growing operation, which sees the fruit grown in hydroponic pots in huge tunnel houses. The operation is sited on land that was once belong to the agricultural training institution, Flock House, but was bought back from the Government by local iwi, Ngati Apa. Roger told Hort News when the iwi acquired the land they had no expertise in farming and so a joint venture was put together between Atihau Incorporation – a large Maori farming Trust – and Waitatapia Station. It was called Te Hou – that was six and a half years ago. This coincided with a nationwide programme to encourage Maori to invest in a range of new ventures, with an emphasis on berries. An entity called Miro (Maori for berry) was formed and Waitatapia, Ngati Apa and Atihau all invested in Miro. He says Waitatapia became an active investor and took on the management of the project. “I went on a trip to Australia on behalf of Te Hou to see how it was done. Australia are

Roger Dalrymple says technology also plays an integral part in the production of the blueberry crop with nutrients and water all controlled by a computer.

world leaders in terms of blueberry production and I was fortunate to visit a property in New South Wales called Mountain

Blue Orchards (MBO),” Roger told Hort News. “Theirs was a fantastic operation. It was not hard to work out the

potential for blueberries having seen what they do. They actually do plant breeding and through Miro we were able to acquire two varieties – Eureka and First Blush,” he says. Roger Dalrymple says they decided that Te Hou would plant two hectares in blueberries, with the capital cost of doing so was about a million dollars. The entire site is completely under cover in tunnel houses and the plants sit on top of plastic matting – there is no sign of soil. Each blueberry plant is grown in a pot

in a special potting mix and small pipes from a central system supply the exact amount of water – together with a recipe of nutrients to each individual plant. He says controlling the environment, albeit at a cost, takes away the risk of crop damage due to climatic conditions. “The key to this however is having enough good quality water. Initially we were using our irrigation water, but in the end we put down a new bore to get better quality water,” Roger explains. “If you don’t have sufficient, good quality water there will be problems. The blueberries use about 24,000 to 25,000 litre of

water per hectare per day when they are in full production.” Technology also plays an integral part in the production of the blueberry crop with nutrients and water all controlled by a computer. “The way the system works is that from anywhere in the country or the world, I could log into the system and see what is happening and if need be make changes.” One of the things that is evident at this operation is the size of blueberries – they are larger than those grown outside. According to Roger Dalrymple, there is a huge market for the blueberries with space in the

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local market and export opportunities across the Tasman and in Asia. They are seen as a premium product and command a good price. He says the good news is that the NZ crop comes on stream later than the Australian berries. Even in NZ, blueberries grown in Northland are the first to be harvested followed by the Bay of Plenty and then the Manawatu. Roger Dalrymple admits he personally likes blueberries and at the moment he can wander around the tunnel houses and help himself as the first commercial crop won’t come off until next year. It’ll be another year before the crop yields are at their best. But he will not see this out. Waitatapia has sold its shareholding in Te Hou and is pulling out of the joint venture, but it is unlikely to be the end of the Dalrymples’ involvement in the blueberry sector. According to Roger, Waitatapia may at some stage in the future start up its own blueberry operation. He says they have learned a lot in the past three years and if they could get reliable labour and sort out other factors they may be back. “Life is journey and this has been a fantastic journey and we were lucky that we were big enough to try something new and put diversity into the business,” he says.

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HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

LeaderBrand expands its footprint in South Auckland Sudesh Kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

LEADING NEW Zealand fresh vegetable grower LeaderBrand says it is thrilled to be cementing its roots in Pukekohe, South Auckland. The Gisborne-based, family-owned business has taken full ownership of another family-owned business Sutherland Produce, after acquiring 50% of the operation in 2013. LeaderBrand chief executive Richard Burke told Hort News that securing full ownership of Sutherland Produce was a natural extension of the company’s strategic plans. “Our initial deal in 2013 was really a step for us into the Pukekohe area, and we’re thrilled to be permanently putting down roots with the completion of the purchase seven years later.” Burke says the relationship with the Sutherland family is “a vital integrated supply partnership”. The Sutherland Produce business on Mill Road, Bombay grows lettuce, broccoli and silver beet. Established in 1975 by Murray McPhail, LeaderBrand has farms located around New Zealand, growing approximately 3500ha of fresh produce each year for process, domestic and international customers, with a staff base of 200 permanent staff, and an additional 300 seasonal staff through the summer harvest period. It grows, packs and exports a wide range of fresh vegetables including broccoli, lettuce, sweet corn, buttercup squash, tomatoes and pumpkins. Growing internationally acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Gris grapes and owning one of New Zealand’s most modern salad production facilities rounds out the scope of the business. Burke says the horticulture industry is facing the same challenges in all regions: around water, land use and finding staff for summer harvest periods. He says Covid-19 has brought

LeaderBrand chief executive Richard Burke (left) with Sutherland Produce’s John Sutherland.

additional challenges to vegetable growers. However, LeaderBrand – which does 80% of its business with supermarkets – has come through the Covid disruptions mostly unscathed. “A positive for our business was that we were allowed to trade during the lockdowns,” he says. “We take our hats off to our staff for their efforts during the lockdowns.” Burke expects no radical changes to its South Auckland operations. He

says it will be business as usual and the Sutherland family will continue to be involved and the 60 full-time staff are retained. “The Sutherland family has a legacy of quality growing, excellent systems and a very well run business, so we’re looking forward to continuing our great relationship with John Sutherland and the team,” Burke told Hort News. “One of our big strategic drivers is to get consistency in supply, quality and food safety across all of our growing

regions in New Zealand and that’s what this deal was always about, so we can offer our customers the same excellent crate of produce whether they’re in Invercargill or Kaitaia.” Sutherland Produce’s John Sutherland followed in the footsteps of his father Don who established the farm 43 years ago. He says the united approach and access to scale and resources is a highlight of the working relationship with LeaderBrand. “We’re absolutely passionate

about growing quality vegetables and always knew that the vision for the Sutherland family and McPhail family to join forces, harnessing our combined knowledge and common interest in growing quality produce, was a very strong proposition for the industry,” says Sutherland. While John will be taking a step back from an active role in operations, he – along with his daughters and nephew – will remain involved in the business.

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HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

New apple proves to be hot item THE FIRST apple to be commercially released from the Hot Climate Programme is receiving rave reviews from growers in Italy, France and the UK, according to horticultural company T&G. It says, after a series of evaluations in 2020, a group of selected growers and marketers are reporting that ‘HOT84A1’ is growing well. The apple features an attractive, rich red colour with excellent texture and a sweet taste and growers have also discovered that it performs equally as well in temperate climates, as it does in hot climates. “This is an exciting find and proves that this apple is well suited to many different geographies,” says T&G’s Gary Wellwood. “It opens up further opportunities for growers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres and provides

ABOUT THE HOT CLIMATE PROGRAMME

the United Kingdom. UKgrown fruit was tested by leading retailers and con-

sumers in the UK with the sweet apple being highly rated and given very posi-

THE HOT Climate Programme (HCP) is a global breeding programmes designed to tackle challenges associated with growing apples and pears in a warming climate, such as sunburn, reduced colour and softer textures. It was initiated in 2002 by Plant & Food Research and IRTA to address challenges that were being experienced by Spanish growers, particularly those of the Catalan region. In 2019, T&G Global joined Plant & Food Research, the Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Technology (IRTA) and Fruit Futur as the strategic commercialisation partner, bringing exciting new apple and pear cultivars from the programme to the world.

an opportunity for yearround supply.” Wellwood adds that in the Northern Hemisphere, the variety blooms in mid-April with harvest timing in late September – early October. This places it in market approximately two weeks

earlier than Fuji, meaning that consumers get to experience this variety on supermarket shelves for longer. Jeremy Linsell, Worldwide Fruit UK, technical development manager says ‘HOT84A1’ has performed well in testing in

The‘HOT84A1’ apple is receiving rave reviews from growers in Italy, France and the UK.

n g i s e D

tive feedback. In its second year as strategic commercialisa-

tion partner for the Hot Climate Programme, T&G Global has made good progress with the first variety under licence. ‘HOT84A1’ is being planted in commercial volumes in Catalonia, Spain. T&G claims that Spanish growers are eager to mitigate the effects of hot summer temperatures on the quality of their apple crop and have jumped at the chance to access this variety. It says interest in the variety has been strong, with ‘HOT84A1’ trees being circulated globally. In 2021, T&G Global, together with its material services provider Dalival,, will begin planting further test blocks throughout Europe. Planting of test trees for evaluation in Australia, the USA and South Africa are expected within a few years.

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HORTNEWS

JANUARY 2021

Dry weather can have impact for two seasons Last year's dry season, compounded with a dry spring, has limited the nutritional uptake from the soil for many crops, resulting in mineral deficiencies. Roots, Shoots & Fruits nutrition advisor Molly Callaghan explains... YEARLY RAINFALL in 2019 was (50-79%) below normal across Northland, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Marlborough. Accordingly, 2019 was the fourth warmest year on NIWA’s records for New Zealand since beginning in 1909. We are observing greater than usual deficiencies at this time of year in essential trace minerals, including magnesium, calcium and even nitrogen. Growers who rely on soil tests to identify and treat deficiencies are

being caught out. This is because with the lack of moisture in the soil, it may be holding these minerals, but they are not being taken up by the plant. So, a leaf test is a better indicator of crop nutrition issues. Once deficiencies are identified with a tissue test, these can be treated with highly bioavailable foliar minerals to ensure efficient uptake and a swift and positive impact on your crop. It is important to understand that deficiencies in one year can impact two seasons.

Therefore, any deficiencies should be addressed as soon as possible to ensure fruit quality remains high. For growers who still have time to take tissue samples pre-flower, precise application of only those minerals required, based on the analysis, will allow reallocation of funds to areas of need. We often see that growers apply zinc and boron every season – whether they are required or not. Yet they overlook minerals such as manganese that can aid in pathogen resistance.

In dry conditions a leaf test, rather than soil test, is a better indicator of crop nutrition issues.

For growers who have not taken a tissue test, a multi-mineral booster – applied foliarly, is recommended. This will ensure that plants have a little of all trace minerals – plus magnesium and yeast assimilable nitrogen.

Other minerals – such as boron or magnesium – can be added to overcome severe deficiencies. For those growers, whose crops are now past flowering and at cell division stage, look to use a bio-available calcium

product. The significance of quality mineral nutrition being bioavailable is not to be overlooked. Having minerals that your crops are able to assimilate effectively plays a pivotal role in response mecha-

nisms against pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Erysiphe necator (Powdery Mildew). Electrolytes are also a valuable input to assist crops through times of wilting and stress. When humans experience dehydration, electrolytes are recommended. Plants are no different. When plants are under stress due to low precipitation, adding a plant electrolyte – such as fulvic acid – can give your crops the jump start they need when irrigation options are limited. To identify your precise nutrition requirements, take a tissue test and send it to our Roots, Shoots & Fruits nutrition expert for a Balanced Analysis assessment.

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JANUARY 2021

Hard graft pays off AROUND 20 hectares of T&G Global’s mandarin orchards in Northland have transformed to a later-season variety over the past two years – via a dose of kiwi ingenuity and clever grafting. Graft wood from mature trees in 2018 and 2019 was collected and embedded onto 24,000 freshly cut stumps of rootstock, which were previously Satsuma mandarins. In total, T&G Global has converted about 20 hectares of mandarins in Kerikeri to Afourer – 11ha two years ago and 9ha in 2019. The company says the new mandarins are now showing excellent growth only two years after plant-

ing, with the first 10ha now bearing fruit. “It was a massive project which had significant risks, so we’re very pleased to see this exciting new late-season variety taking off,” explains T&G’s Tom Chamberlain. “Two years ago, these trees were Satsuma mandarins and now they’re producing Afourer mandarins.” Chamberlain says growing new trees would usually take years to bear fruit, but by using this grafting process it has enabled the tree to fruit over a shorter period of time – rather than replanting with young plants. “I’m super excited and

pleased about it as it was a big risk. It looks like the gamble will pay off.” He says the later season Afourer variety has a bright orange colour and excellent flavour. Because the variety is harvested after the Satsuma season, the company can get mandarins in NZ households for longer.

Chamberlain adds that it’s also opened up an export opportunity for the company with strong demand for citrus coming from consumers in Hong Kong and Japan. “We couldn’t get the volumes they demanded to those export markets this season, so we’re excited about this extended window. It’s also

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a fruit that travels well to export markets.”

Around 20 hectares of T&G Global’s mandarin orchards in Northland have transformed to a laterseason variety over the past two years.

SCIENTISTS RECOGNISED SCIENTISTS AT Plant & Food Research picked up a major accolade at the Science New Zealand 2020 National Awards, held at Parliament late last year. Plant & Food’s kiwifruit genome sequencing team received the Team Award for their work in manually annotating the kiwifruit genome. The genome has set the “gold standard” for ongoing genomics and gene identification research. This work will greatly benefit future breeding efforts, improving the power of genetic analysis and genomics-assisted breeding, which are critical elements in developing cultivars with desirable traits and supporting industry partners. Meanwhile, Dr Russel Lowe – regarded as one of New Zealand’s most successful plant breeders – was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Lowe’s breeding and selection of a number of new kiwifruit cultivars has transformed NZ’s kiwifruit industry. In the 1990s, his selection of the cultivar ‘Hort16A’ (marketed as Zespri Gold) helped save the industry. In 2010, Lowe recognised Psa disease tolerance in the cultivar ‘Zesy002’ (marketed as Zespri SunGold), which underpinned the rapid recovery of the industry from Psa. Meanwhile, the latest red cultivar, commercialised as Zespri Red, was also selected by Lowe and has provided the market with a new and distinctive tasting fruit. Lowe is an Honorary Fellow in New Cultivar Kiwifruit Breeding at Plant & Food Research after spending five decades working for the organisation. Dr Lisa Evans received the Plant & Food Research Early Career Research Award. Her research provides insights into how the movement patterns and cognitive ability of honeybees, bumble bees and other insects affects their efficacy as crop pollinators. Evans work is providing new pollination management approaches for New Zealand cropping industries, leading to more sustainable and efficient production of pollination dependent crops. Science New Zealand represents the country’s seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) including Plant & Food Research. The annual awards recognise research excellence at each CRI.

Farmer Brad Burling and his daughter

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JANUARY 2021

New NZ apple has international competitors green with ‘Envy’ NZ-BRED Envy apples, developed and produced by T&G Global, had a record season last year with a 23% increase in international sales. This generated more than a billion dollars of sales in 2020, with plenty of growth predicted ahead. T&G chief executive Gareth Edgecombe says independent research has forecast that another 25 million TCEs will be needed by 2030 to meet potential consumer demand, especially in China, Vietnam, Thailand and the USA. The company is currently producing about

five million 18kg boxes of apples a year. However, Edgecombe expects to be producing 15 million boxes a year within three to four years as established orchards mature. He claims the apple had two main attributes, which attracted prices between 25 and 50% over other types such as a Gala, Red Delicious or Granny Smith. “It grows really well for growers, so there’s really strong profitability that comes out of the ground operations from it,” Edgecombe explains. “However, most importantly, it’s also a fantastic apple from an

T&G chief executive Gareth Edgecombe says independent research has forecast that another 25 million trays of Envy apples will be needed by 2030 to meet potential consumer demand.

eating perspective. Consumers’ feedback is that it’s sweet, crunchy, crispy and just a really great experience.”

T&G shipped 1.9m tray cartons of Envy apples to United States, China and Asia, last year. “Envy is one of the real

success stories in New Zealand’s horticultural sector,” Edgecombe says. The apples are grown under licence in 13 coun-

tries and sold to consumers in over 60 countries in the 12 years since the product was first launched. “It’s a great example of New Zealand intellectual property to the world, where we can take what has been developed in New Zealand, protect it, and then scale it up at large scale both here in New Zealand and offshore,” he adds. “I think it’s really great for New Zealand to celebrate, and we need to do more about across the economy.” Edgecombe says the Envy apple is not as well known in New Zealand,

because most of the produce was sold overseas and local consumers preferred a sweet and slightly tart apple, such as Jazz. “In in 2019 [Envy] was voted the number one apple for taste, appearance and texture by consumers in the USA,” Edgecombe said. The apple was developed by T&G’s partners at Plant and Food Research in 2008 and is a cross between Royal Gala and Braeburn. Meanwhile, Edgecombe says his company has a pipeline of new varieties of apple in various stages of development.

The boom in Maori is evidenced by the fact that last year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards included horticulture for the first time ever, with Maori Development Minister Nania Mahuta and awards chair Kingi Smiler among the many attending field days for the event.

Maori horticulture booming A NEW report estimates the gross output of Māori horticulture in New Zealand is around $220 million per year. The report – from economic consultancy Berl and commissioned by Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Primary Industries and Horticulture New Zealand – shows growing Māori

ownership in the sector. The research reveals eight times more Māori-owned businesses than previously thought. The report estimates that approximately 5% of the horticultural land in New Zealand is operated by Māori authorities, organisations and individuals, around 4000 hectares. Around 1150 hectares are used to

grow kiwifruit, the crop with the largest Māori share, followed by onion, squash, avocados and apples. Māori own approximately 400,000 hectares of farmland, but more than half is used for sheep, beef and dairy farming and less than 1% is dedicated to horticulture. “Our analysis looks at the extent

and growth in Māori horticulture in recent years,” Berl says. From 2006 to 2018, Māori have been increasingly investing in horticulture. “Now, with more than 4200 hectares of horticultural farms, the Māori horticulture industry has grown 300% in 12 years. This growth is expected to continue, with many iwi

and Māori collectives planning expansions in kiwifruit, avocados and berries.” According to the report, an estimated 3800 Māori work directly in the horticulture sector. This represents around 28 % of the workforce in horticulture, but they only occupy 4% of the leadership roles in the sector.

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JANUARY 2021

Hemp trial leads to skincare exports Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

A GOVERNMENTFUNDED hemp research project into the restoration of soil in vineyards has led to a new export skincare line. Cosmetic brand Hark & Zander was founded after a successful trial into the use of industrial hemp as a way of improving soil quality and vineyard biodiversity. The trial was co-funded by the Government’s R&D agency, Callaghan Innovation. Company co-founder and Marlborough vineyard manager Kirsty Harkness first began looking at hemp as an alternative

soil also responds to this methodology,” she says. Harkness began to consider how efficacious hemp could be on human skin to help ease her own allergic reaction to some skincare products. The new brand name Hark & Zander was then formed with business partner Gabrielle Zander, a specialist in blending essential oils for skincare. Harkness says the hemp seed goes through a special filtration process, using the first machine of its kind in NZ to de-hull, remove sediment and produce a cold-pressed, clarified oil with a golden colour. “Our first product,

a product which was first used for industrial purposes thousands of years ago.”

Kirsty Harkness first began looking at hemp as an alternative to seaweed fertilisers.

“The future range, 15 products strong, will see each released on a monthly basis.” to seaweed fertilisers. She says its effective microorganisms and estate-made compost rejuvenate the soil without taking nutrients or moisture from the vines or negatively impacting the grapes or wine. Licenced to grow hemp by the Ministry of Health three years ago, Harkness planted the mid-row cover crop in the vineyards. Noting how cumulative years of soil compaction and nutrient deficiency can take its toll on the health of any vineyard, she believes it’s important to ensure the life cycle is not just sustainable but also regenerative. “Having trialled blue borage, red clover, phacelia and buckwheat as cover crops in the vineyard, it wasn’t until I looked at hemp – not only as a way of breathing life back into the soil but also as a potential secondary revenue source – that I really got excited,” Harkness told Hort News. “In the same way the human body needs to be healthy to be resistant to disease and infection, the

a 100% natural HempTonic Face Oil contains nine vitamin-rich plant oils such as hemp seed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil, evening primrose oil, squalane and grape seed oil,” she explains. “The future range, 15 products strong, will see each released on a monthly basis.” Harkness, who is on the NZ Hemp Board (NZHIA) and a government hemp committee, says interest in growing hemp has increased significantly in the past three years – increasing tenfold from 200 to 2000ha over that period. She believes one of the big growth barriers that the hemp product industry must overcome is the inherent confusion with recreational cannabis. “Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant species, but it is grown for industrial uses and contains negligible amounts of the psychoactive compound THC,” Harkness explains. “For New Zealand to take full advance of the $2 billion export potential of nutraceutical hemp, we need to grow mainstream acceptance of

Protection at the start pays off in the end

When it comes to your crop, a better start means a beautiful finish. Benevia® insecticide is from a new family of insecticides for Potato, Onions and Tomatoes providing another tool in your rotation program. Its clever chemistry targets Onion thrip, Potato tuber moth, Heliothis and Aphids protecting plant health. It quickly stops tomato potato psyllid feeding to reduce the possibility of Zebra chip disease, with minimal impact to some beneficial insects in Potatoes. So spray early with Benevia® when pests first appear. Visit www.fmccrop.nz for more information.

FMC New Zealand Limited Phone: 0800 658 080 www.fmccrop.nz

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JANUARY 2021

SMART SPRAYER SAVES TIME AND COSTS

The Maschio Tigre mulchers are available in 1.7 or 1.8 metre working widths and can deal with residues of up to 12cm in diameter.

Mulcher has powerful bite Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH THE gradual rise in horsepower of tractors being used in orchards, Power Farming NZ has introduced a duo of heavy-duty mulchers aimed at capitalising on this extra power. The Maschio Tigre, available in 1.7 or 1.8 metre working widths, can deal with residues of up to 12cm in diameter. The machine utilises a 10mm walled rotor of 195mm diameter that in turn carries four rows of 1.2kg flails. Arranged in a helical pattern around the rotor, the layout reduces

power consumption, creates a progressive cutting action and reduces machine noise, the company says. Up front, the machines feature a heavy-duty, three-point linkage frame that can be easily offset using a clever roller system to the main body. For those looking to stay on the tractor seat or make more frequent lateral adjustments, a hydraulic offset option is also available. The main body of the mulcher uses a replaceable, doubleskinned construction, said to resist damage from larger debris as it

passes over the rotor. Within the rear-hood area, a twin row of adjustable counter blades ensures all materials are chopped to a fine consistency, ensuring a rapid decomposition after mulching. An optional extra front rake can be fitted to ensure all material is pulled from the ground and into the rotor’s path. Extensive guarding at the front and rear ensures that flying debris is always kept to a minimum. Working to complement the threepoint linkage, a rear mounted, 200mm

diameter roller maintains a constant cutting height, while benefitting from the use of triple-labyrinth seals on its axle for an extended service life. Rated for tractors producing up to 140hp, the mulcher’s driveline has a centrally-mounted main gearbox that feeds power laterally to a fivebelt driveline to the main rotor shaft. This layout allows the belt system to absorb shock loads when oversized or immoveable debris is encountered, while also offering the ability to deliver rotor speeds of up to 2100rpm. www.powerfarming. co.nz

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The BA Smart Sprayer reduces spray inputs and spray loss beyond crop canopies Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

CLAIMED TO have some of the most revolutionary spray technology to enter the Australasian market, the BA Smart Sprayer is now available in New Zealand. Powered by Smart-Apply, a densitybased spray system that utilises sensor technology, the machine provides horticulturalists with greater spray application. The system utilises LIDAR sensor technology to detect the specific architecture of the canopy, which in turn creates a digital representation of the crop characteristics – including height, width, spacing and the density of each plant it passes. The digital information is then converted into a signal to each independently-controlled spray nozzle for instant application and adjustment of spray where required. This helps both reduce chemical use and achieves considerable cost savings. Researched, developed and fieldtested at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture over the past decade, the BA Smart Sprayer has been proven to reduce spray inputs and spray loss beyond canopies. “The system is proving effective in

reducing up to 87% of airborne drift, delivering both environmental and economic sustainability,” explains John Dixon, operations manager at BA Pumps and Sprayers. Dixon also suggests that the precision the system has significant longterm benefits for vineyards by using seasonal growth data and producing healthier plants, greater overall yields and cleaner, safer groundwater. The system also lends itself for retrofitting to existing air blast spray equipment. It utilises an Android Tablet for display, which enables easy application. The interface allows the LIDAR sensor technology to work in tandem with GPS to determine ground speed and field position, assisting growers to gauge spray coverage and gather valuable data of their vines. There is also the flexibility to revert to manual spraying applications if conditions require this approach. BA Pumps and Sprayers, formerly known as Bertolini Australasia, will be conducting a series of demonstration events throughout the country to introduce the technology to New Zealand growers. Visit: https://www.basmartspray.co.nz for more details.

TIME AND MONEY USDA research has confirmed that LIDAR sensor technology can result in the following savings: • Up to 73% reduction of spray consumption • Up to 87% reduction in spray loss beyond tree canopies • Up to 87% less airborne drift • Up to 98% reduction in spray loss on the ground Effective or better crop protection