October 2015 - PGG Wrightson

Facts
Fruitfed’s Technical team
gets new emphasis
The Fruitfed Supplies Technical Services
team has now joined together with Rural
Supplies Technical under the leadership
of PGG Wrightson’s technical capability
manager John Skurr.
The decision to bring the company’s
horticultural and agricultural technical teams
together is expected to deliver further benefits
for growers nationwide due to an increasing
emphasis on extension learning for both
growers and staff.
“As we bring the two teams together, I’d
like to acknowledge that both the Rural
Supplies (RS) and Fruitfed technical teams
do a fantastic job albeit in slightly different
areas,” says John. “Kevin Manning, Fruitfed’s
research and development manager, and his
team continue with their independent trial
work to keep growers informed on the latest
chemistry and Jimmy Bowden, Fruitfed’s
crop monitoring manager, and his team look
for more ways to support growers with this
important crop management tool. The RS
technical team has a much stronger focus
on extension learning with staff nationwide,
which ultimately benefits our customers
through greater understanding and
knowledge of the farming sector.
“My job now is to look for the synergies across
these two technical teams to determine how
best to grow the whole technical offering to
staff, growers and farmers around the country.”
John says his role overseeing the upskilling of
staff across the country is paying benefits in
terms of consistency and accuracy of critical
technical documentation and knowledge.
John explains the extension learning focus of
the RS technical team. “The team comprises
two agronomists, two soil scientists, two vets
and two animal nutritionists, and our aim
is to add value on farm and with staff. No
matter who a customer is talking to within
our company – it might be in a store or on
the phone with a receptionist – if our people
understand at least the basics of farming,
that’s important. With only eight people in the
RS technical team, we can’t be everywhere all
of the time, so to lift the level of knowledge
among our technical field representatives
(TFR) and across the whole business, we built
our own Technical College using an online
learning system. Currently we offer 88 online
courses to 540 staff participants who have
completed around 15,500 courses in the past
two years. That’s level one.
“Level two is an on-the-farm training scheme
offering 40 events a year across ten sites
around the country. Our tech team shares
their specialist skills with other personnel, all
the physical things that we can’t do via online
training. The Technical College investment
requires 3.5 years to get through all the
courses we want to offer.”
Issue 236, October 2015
sales support manager saw him lead the RS
technical team. He’s part of the company’s
management team alongside Fruitfed
Supplies national manager Max Spence, both
men reporting to former Fruitfed Supplies
general manager and now PGG Wrightson’s
general manager of retail, Stephen Guerin.
John also runs the company’s RS sales
conferences where staff learn about the latest
research and product releases, as well as comanaging the ‘academy’, a programme for the
company’s emerging talent.
“My job now is to look for
the synergies across these
two technical teams to
determine how best to grow
the whole technical offering
to staff, growers and farmers
around the country.”
The second, equally significant aspect of
John’s role is to lead the company’s customer
and information systems programme.
“In the RS business, we identified that to do
their job well, our TFRs need about 10-15,000
pages of documents available for reference.
You can’t physically handle that, so we’ve
created a system called BlueNote which makes
these documents available on a tablet for our
people to access. The system syncs with head
office’s current version of each document to
ensure our people have the right technical
and product information to assist farmers and
growers. It’s a significant investment in helping
staff to do their job well.”
Former Fruitfed technical services manager
Linda Haughey is now in a project
management role while John’s former role as
Technical capability manager John Skurr now
leads the Fruitfed Supplies Technical Services team
Fruitfed Supplies National Office | Phone: 09 448 0510 | www.fruitfed.co.nz | Fruitfed Supplies is part of PGG Wrightson Ltd
Fruitfed News
Fruitfed rep benefits from Zelam study tour
The opportunity for one of Fruitfed’s
Marlborough representatives to meet
growers and agri-chemical retailers
in northern California, Oregon and
Washington state helps bring new ideas
and information to New Zealand growers.
Earlier this year, Blenheim-based horticultural
sales representative Tyrone Yianakis
participated in a study tour to the United
States’ west coast hosted by Jason Gosney,
national sales manager for New Zealandbased agri-chemical supplier Zelam.
Tyrone says: “The site visits to growers of
wine grapes, pipfruit and grass seed were
eye-opening due to the sheer scale of their
operations compared to our New Zealand
growers. To put the difference of scale into
perspective, one winery we visited produces
the same volume of wine per year as the
whole of New Zealand! Where we try and
balance that fine line of quality versus
production quantity, for them it’s more
about branding and marketing to shift the
huge volumes.
“The variety of crops grown in the regions we
visited was also interesting – from almonds
and pistachios to rice, sunflowers, grass and
vegetable seed crops, grapes, apples and citrus.
“Water is a huge issue and growers invest
in monitoring technology to manage their
water allocations very carefully. Cheap labour
is readily available so many vineyard and
orchard processes, like bud rubbing, leaf
plucking and fruit thinning, are done by hand
whereas we try to mechanise as many of
these jobs as we can.”
Tyrone says being able to talk with personnel
from Simplot, a horticulture product
supplier with a similar corporate structure to
PGG Wrightson, and Wilco, a farmer-owner
co-op, added to his understanding of how
they do business with growers.
Zelam host Jason Gosney (second from left) and Fruitfed’s Tyrone Yianakis (right) with other US study tour
participants in the famous Napa Valley
Hawke’s Bay winner of Bayer
Young Viticulturist title
Caleb Dennis, group technical officer
for Craggy Range Vineyards, has won
the 2015 Bayer Young Viticulturist of the
Year competition.
Caleb and his three fellow finalists – Matt
Duggan from Cloudy Bay, Marlborough
(runner up), Mike Winter from Amisfield,
Central Otago and Scott Lancely from Craggy
Range’s Wairarapa vineyards – competed in
a range of challenges over three days at the
national final in Hawke’s Bay.
Wrapping up the competition, the
contestants each delivered a speech at
the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards dinner
2
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
with topics including the importance of
experimenting with new grape varietals
in New Zealand, the introduction of
geographical indications, how to compete
in a price slashing market and what can the
wine industry learn from the All Blacks.
“From this experience and what I’ve heard
about similar trips for other Fruitfed personnel,
there’s a lot to be gained by simply being able
to look at our local growing operations with
a fresh point of view. Our thanks to Zelam for
the opportunity.”
continues to inspire our team. We value
the opportunity to support young people
in New Zealand’s vibrant viticultural sector
through this annual competition which
has continued to grow and flourish during
its first decade thanks to a lot of hard work
from a small team.”
Next Caleb will represent the grape growing
sector in November’s Young Horticulturist of
the Year competition.
Roger Pierce, representing Fruitfed
Supplies as a major sponsor of the Young
Viticulturist, says: “Every year, the talent,
passion and potential as future industry
leaders among the competition entrants
Craggy Range’s Caleb Dennis holding the Young
Viticulturist of the Year trophy
Fruitfed News
Kiwifruit growers enjoy benefits of farm
environment competition
Katikati kiwifruit growers Stephen Kenna
and Phillipa Wright have won three awards
in the 2015 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm
Environment Awards.
key motivation for entering the awards was
to compare ourselves with others and see
what similar-thinking people were doing to
improve the sustainability of their operations.”
Stephen and Phillipa run a 15 ha orchard at
Ongare Point, north of Katikati. Like many
kiwifruit growers they were hit hard by Psa-V,
but the couple’s positive attitude and careful
planning have helped them cope with the
disaster. This impressed judges of the 2015 Bay
of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards
(BFEA), who awarded the operation three
category awards.
Stephen says their involvement in the
competition was a valuable learning
experience and they thoroughly enjoyed
the judging process. “It was more like a peer
to peer discussion. The judges came from a
diverse range of backgrounds and we really
enjoyed the opportunity to show them what
we were trying to achieve.”
Stephen says they entered the competition
to benchmark their operation against a wide
range of agricultural enterprises.
“We are passionate about the kiwifruit
industry, despite its biosecurity issues, and
we thought we had a good story to tell,”
Stephen says. “We’ve always focussed on
sustainable management that pays, and we
are constantly questioning our practices and
looking for better ways to do things. So our
“The competition is a great way to learn more
about how to improve sustainability. It doesn’t
matter if you are growing fruit or animals the
Winning a category award in the East Coast
Ballance Farm Environment Awards was a
nice little pat on the back for viticulturist
Steve Wheeler and his employer, Mission
Estate Winery.
Award. Entrants must demonstrate a sound
knowledge of nutrient budgeting and nutrient
cycles and show a good understanding of
how nutrients impact on both the surface and
ground water.
Steve manages 33 ha of vines for Mission
Estate, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most
well-known wine producers, which is based
near Napier and owned by Marist Holdings Ltd.
“Along with the climate, soils are the starting
point for growing good grapes, so soil
management is crucial,” Steve says.
Steve, who has an extensive background in
soil science, was thrilled when Mission Estate
was announced the 2015 East Coast winner of
the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management
Paul Wiltshier, Fruitfed Supplies’ Bay of Plenty
area sales manager, says: “Stephen and Phillipa
are to be congratulated for having their hard
work and dedication to growing according
to integrated fruit production principles
acknowledged by these three significant
awards. We look forward to continuing to work
with them.”
Along with the Hill Laboratories Harvest
Award, which recognises excellent crop,
pasture and soil management while taking
into consideration the effects the farming
system has on the land resource now and
in the long term, the orchard also picked up
the Zespri® Kiwifruit Orchard Award and the
Massey University Innovation Award.
Mission Estate wins soil
management award
“Mission Estate has being doing some great
work in the sustainability field,” Steve says,
“so entering the Ballance Farm Environment
Awards (BFEA) was an excellent way to
showcase this work and to encourage others
to do the same.”
basic principles are the same. We are all trying
to produce a healthy product and protect the
environment as much as possible.”
Award-winning kiwifruit grower Stephen Kenna
(right) with his Fruitfed Supplies representative
Hamish Mackie
things we were doing and pointed out some
areas we could work on in future.”
Claire Pinker, Mission Estate’s Fruitfed
Supplies representative, says: “On behalf of
PGG Wrightson, which is a national sponsor
of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards,
I congratulate Steve and the Mission Estate
team for their innovation and dedication
to continually seeking to make their grape
growing more sustainable.”
BFEA judges were impressed with Mission
Estate’s careful matching of grape varieties
to soil type. They also praised the use of an
integrated nutrient tracking system that
monitors soil nutrients on a block by block
basis. Steve’s computer programme analyses
soil and plant tissue tests for specific areas and
uses comprehensive data to track trends and
optimise nutrient use.
Steve adds: “The judges provided us with a
detailed report that highlighted all the good
Mission Estate’s award-winning viticulturist
Steve Wheeler
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
3
Product Updates
Introducing a new source of N
Biostart N contains the active ingredient
Azotobacter chroococcum, a nitrogen
fixing bacteria which converts
atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available
ammonium nitrogen in the soil for
sustained plant growth.
BioStart’s horticulture sales manager, Stephen
Wrigley, says Biostart N is a new biological
product from their R&D team which works
in sync with the plants’ growth periods and
can be used to complement conventional
nitrogen fertiliser programmes.
“BioStart isolated Azotobacter chroococcum
from New Zealand soils and developed
a manufacturing process to produce the
microbe in a concentrate form,” Stephen says.
“By applying Biostart N you can increase the
number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in your soil.”
Stephen explains how Azotobacter
chroococcum works: “Nitrogen (N2) makes up
78% of the air, however plants can’t access
and use nitrogen in the form of N2 as they can
only take up nitrogen into their roots as either
nitrate (NO3-) , ammonium (NH4+) or amino
acids. Special bacteria convert atmospheric
nitrogen (N2) to ammonium (NH4+) for the
plant. This process is called biological N fixation.
“Azotobacter chroococcum is a well-known
nitrogen-fixing bacterium which lives
around the plant’s roots and there are many
international scientific papers published
about the microbe and its benefits. Once
Biostart N is applied to the soil the Azotobacter
chroococcum awakens, populates the soil
and begins the biological nitrogen fixation
process. International scientific literature states
that Azotobacter chroococcum can produce up
to 30 units of N per ha per year depending on
the soil, crop and weather conditions.”
the late afternoon or when the incidence of
UV rays is reduced and preferably before a
rain event.
For more information on Biostart N, call
Biostart on 0800 116 229 or your local
Fruitfed representative.
BioStart N’s 50 ml pack contains 100 billion
Azotobacter chroococcum which treats 5 ha.
Biostart N is best applied in spring and
autumn at 10 ml/ha. Biostart N contains live
microbes and should be applied directly
onto the soil. To maximise activity, apply it in
Earn cash for your community this spring!
Over the past five years the farming community has raised more than $365,000 for schools and community organisations around
New Zealand with PGG Wrightson Cash for Communities. The 2015 programme is now underway and we would love you to take part.
Simply purchase Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser on your Fruitfed Supplies or PGG Wrightson account, between 1 September and
30 November 2015, and you can start earning cash for your local community, school, St John or Rescue Helicopter.*
It’s easy to register! Visit www.cashforcommunities.co.nz to nominate your cause.
*Open to Fruitfed Supplies and PGG Wrightson account holders only. $1 per tonne of Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser purchased (excluding Lime, Gypsum and Hatuma), between
1 September and 30 November 2015, will be donated to your nominated cause. See full terms and conditions at www.cashforcommunities.co.nz. Minimum donation per cause applies.
Freephone 0800 10 22 76
4
www.pggwrightson.co.nz
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
Helping grow the country
Pipfruit Sector
Control codling moth before PHIs kick in
With increasing volumes of pipfruit now
going into higher value Asia markets, the
necessity for fruit to be clear of quarantine
actionable pests, particularly codling
moth, is more important than ever.
Codling moth sensitive markets are often
considerably more valuable than traditional
markets. Therefore there is a significant
premium for achieving excellent control of
codling moth and assurance that the packed
fruit is pest-free. The current strategy is to
control early season populations then protect
against any potential re-infestations based on
trap catch thresholds.
Adult codling moth (Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)
DuPont™ Altacor® insecticide is the last of the
heavy-hitting insecticides that can be used
before pre-harvest interval (PHI) restrictions
apply. DuPont’s pipfruit specialist Hayden Toy
says growers should be keeping a close eye on
their traps as the PHI cut-off dates approach.
Altacor provides robust and residual control
for up to 28 days. Translaminar activity, which
allows the product to move quickly through
the leaf from one side to the other, plays an
important role in its effectiveness and in its
two-hour rain-fastness.
“If the traps are approaching threshold, it’s
important to go in with an application of
Altacor before the cut-off. It will greatly reduce
the chances of the block being rejected for
the Asia market.”
Best use recommendations
Altacor exhibits low impact on key
beneficial insects, making it an ideal product
in integrated pest management (IPM)
programmes, especially for cleaning up
codling moth and leaf roller before moving
into a mating disruption programme.
• Spray intervals must not be shorter
than 14-21 days over the petal fall
to early December period or 21-28
days in the period from the end of
December on
However, good agricultural practices should
be followed and Altacor should not be applied
when bees are actively foraging. It does not
require a re-entry interval, so orchard activities
can continue without any unnecessary delays.
• Make no more than two applications
per crop per season
• Apply where monitoring indicates
thresholds are exceeded
• For apple export pre-harvest intervals,
please refer to the Pipfruit NZ export
spray withholding period database.
Always read and follow label directions. The DuPont Oval
Logo, DuPont™ and Altacor are registered trademarks or
trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.
Talendo a good option for early
season powdery mildew
The early season window, i.e. open cluster,
for DuPont™ Talendo® fungicide for
powdery mildew control starts very soon.
Talendo is a specialist powdery mildew
protectant that is an essential tool for
controlling this disease in orchards. DuPont
New Zealand pipfruit specialist Hayden Toy
says growers should use Talendo for their
powdery mildew control when black spot
fungicide protection is in place and only
use DMI fungicides if they require black spot
curative activity following an infection event.
of action and limit the number applications of
at-risk fungicide groups. Talendo has a good
fit for a season-long integrated powdery
mildew programme.
Talendo works by inhibiting spore germination
and stopping the spread of viable powdery
mildew spores. Treated spores can’t penetrate
the plant and the infection stops. Nor can
spores departing from a treated plant infect
other plants. It also protects against secondary
infections, keeping the crop clean for longer.
Benefits of Talendo
• IPM-friendly, being soft on beneficials,
earthworms and honey bees
• Robust residual activity
• Excellent product coverage
“There is an absolute need for us to use the
DMI chemistry diligently which is under
threat of black spot resistance. It makes sense
therefore to use Talendo when powdery
mildew is the focus and the curative black
spot activity conferred from DMIs is not
required,” Hayden says.
From a fungicide resistance management
perspective, it is essential to alternate modes
• Excellent redistribution via local vapour
activity aids in coverage of existing and
new growth
• Easy and flexible to use
Open cluster blossom represents the early season spray
window for Talendo and powdery mildew control
Always read and follow label directions. The DuPont Oval
Logo, DuPont™ and Talendo are registered trademarks or
trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
5
Kiwifruit Sector
Using Actigard during spring – a technical update
Actigard™ was one of the first products
registered in New Zealand to help kiwifruit
growers combat Psa and the majority
are now using Actigard at some stage in
their Psa management programme, either
pre-flower and/or post-harvest prior to
leaf-fall.
Paul Hassan, Syngenta solutions development
lead, says: “While many growers have applied
Actigard plus copper in the spring without any
issues, others have noticed some reduction in
canopy growth, particularly when applied in
the early spring growth period.
“Elicitors such as Actigard work by switching
on the plant’s own defence mechanism
against Psa via a response known as
Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR), which
is thought may divert some resources away
from canopy growth.
Actigard features and benefits
• Actigard is a ‘plant activator’ which
stimulates the plants natural selfdefence against Psa.
• It takes 4-7 days for the plant to
become fully activated by Actigard.
Recommended Actigard timing (bud-break
to flowering)
Apply the first Actigard spray approximately
21-28 days prior to flowering. This will allow
time for the canopy to partially develop, and
a second Actigard can then be applied 1-7
days pre-flower to help protect vines through
the high risk flowering period where products
cannot be applied for Psa control.
“Any negative effect on growth is likely to be
exacerbated if vines are under stress from
factors such as wind, frost, hail damage, poor
root health, disease, poor drainage, drought,
nutritional deficiency, etc. “
Do not apply Actigard to vines that are
stressed due to adverse environmental
conditions such as high wind, frost or hail. Wait
until vines have recovered. The use of foliar
nutrient sprays may assist in helping leaf and
vine recovery and maintaining vine health.
Syngenta is planning trial work this season to
gain further understanding of the relationship
between Actigard use and canopy growth.
Until this trial work is completed, Syngenta
recommend delaying the first Actigard
application in the spring until approximately
21-28 days prior to flowering.
Actigard can be tank mixed with a wide
range of products including: Kocide Opti®,
Nordox®, Keystrepto®, Kasumin®, Prodigy®,
Movento®, Luna Privilege® and some foliar
nutrients and seaweed based products.
However, multiple product mixtures should
be tested prior to use.
• Applied pre-flowering, Actigard can
provide systemic protection over the
high risk flowering period.
• Actigard has a full label claim for foliar
application pre-flowering, and postharvest prior to leaf-fall.
• Actigard has no known resistance to
bacterial pathogens or cross resistance
with other bactericides.
• Actigard is rainfast in two hours.
• A maximum of four applications of
Actigard are allowed per season.
For more information on the use of
Actigard in your Psa management
programme in the spring, contact your
local Fruitfed Supplies store.
™ Actigard is the trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.
Earn 50 Rewards points for every
tonne of Ballance Agri-Nutrients
fertiliser you purchase!*
*Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser Rewards points will be awarded indefinitely until withdrawn
by PGG Wrightson. Points will be awarded at time of uplift and will appear on the applicable
Rewards statement for that month. Excludes freight, cartage, bags, pallets and filling fees.
6
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
Kiwifruit Sector
Increasing OGR for kiwifruit growers
Last season saw increased use of Benefit
Kiwi by kiwifruit growers wanting to
increase tray numbers and fruit size
profile to drive increased orchard gate
returns (OGR). Continuing research has
shown consistent improvement in OGR for
Hayward, Green 14 and Gold 3 growers.
The ability of Benefit Kiwi to increase OGR
for kiwifruit growers has been proven in
New Zealand for many years. The unique
blend of nucleotides, amino acids, vitamins
and co-factors helps stimulate cell division
and enhanced fruit size in treated crops.
This has been particularly evident in the
almost universal use in gold varieties for over
ten years. More recently, several trials over
the last two seasons have demonstrated
just how effective Benefit Kiwi is on Green
cultivars and various trials last season also
showed great results in Gold 3 when used in
a targeted manner.
“Having worked with Benefit Kiwi for over 10
years now, it pleases me that we continue
to see good results in all kiwifruit varieties,”
notes Richard Bawden, country manager for
Valagro Pacific. “We continue to learn every
year and have now developed a very good
understanding of how best to use this product
to increase grower returns. Bigger fruit also
means fewer fruit required to fill trays, so
as fruit size increases, not only do per-tray
payments increase, but the numbers of trays
submitted also increases.”
Trials carried out by the New Zealand Institute
of Plant and Food Research and published in
the September-October 2013 Kiwifruit Journal
clearly demonstrated the potential for Benefit
Kiwi to increase fruit size and OGR to growers
of both Hayward and Green14. Further work
by Valagro Pacific in the 2013-14 season
demonstrated increased grower returns on
four out of four Hayward trial blocks.
“Having worked with Benefit Kiwi for over
10 years now, it pleases me that we continue
to see good results in all kiwifruit varieties.”
During the 2014-15 season, various trials were
also run in Gold 3 blocks. “We know a number
of Gold 3 growers have historically used Benefit
Kiwi on their orchards,” says Richard. “We
needed to understand this crop better and
how we could use Benefit kiwi to the growers’
advantage on Gold 3. What we saw in these
trials was improved fruit size, no apparent
effect on dry matter and most interestingly,
reduced percentage of small fruit that would
normally not be packed. These positive
results again drove increased returns to
growers around $5,000 to $15,000 per hectare
compared to untreated fruit (see Table 1).
It is recommended that growers considering
use of Benefit Kiwi on Gold3 this season
should seek advice from their Fruitfed Supplies
representative before doing so, as it may not
be suitable in all situations.”
Tayah Ryan, senior technical advisor for
Fruitfed Supplies, agrees. “Fruitfed’s Research
and Development team has conducted a
number of replicated trials now over different
seasons in Hort 16A, Hayward and more
recently, Gold 3 with Benefit Kiwi. Depending
somewhat on the orchard and the season, we
tend to see a positive shift in the size profile,
increasing the percentage of fruit in the
bigger size categories.”
The recently-released Zespri AOC list states
Benefit Kiwi as being able to be used up to
40 days before harvest.
Richard says: “In Green varieties, this means
not only can growers apply Benefit Kiwi during
spring to initiate fruit sizing, but they also now
have a tool available for targeted use during
the December-January period, depending
on location and variety. We have consistently
demonstrated that a spend of $300 to $1,200
(depending on use rates and number of
applications) will return $2,000 to $15,000 per
hectare to the grower.”
Table 1: 2014-15 Gold 3 trial, Hawke’s Bay
% small fruit
not packed
Packed trays
per hectare
Dry matter %
OGR per hectare
Grower Standard
13.25
14314
17.08
$65,364
Benefit Kiwi x 1
9.25
14974
16.69
$70,517
Benefit Kiwi x 2
8.00
15180
17.25
$80,414
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
7
Kiwifruit Sector
Boost kiwifruit vines with Kiwivax
A new root drench containing three
specially-selected strains of Trichoderma,
Kiwivax promotes vine health and vigour
as well as natural disease resistance.
Kiwivax potted field trials
Developed as a joint partnership between
Lincoln University’s Bio-Protection Research
Centre and Agrimm Technologies, Kiwivax is
the result of trials dating back to 2011 when
Zespri and Kiwifruit Vine Health Ltd were
looking to find novel biological control agents
to fight against Psa.
Dr Robert Hill, the Bio-Protection Research
Centre’s principal research officer and leader of
the Trichoderma Research Group, has used the
root endophytic Trichoderma to great effect
in other industries and his work with Kiwivax
now sees the product available commercially
as a wettable powder formulation suitable for
use in kiwifruit nurseries and orchards.
The active ingredient in Kiwivax is a mix of
three specially-selected strains of Trichoderma
and these are all isolated from the roots of
very healthy plants.
Kiwivax aims to colonise
the plant roots and there
seems to be a two-fold
response in kiwifruit plants
- a stress defence response
and a growth response.
Robert says: “Trichoderma from the healthiest
plants is used to confer long term health
benefits upon the wider orchard population.
new root growth have been identified. These
are late winter into early spring and then again
post-harvest.
“We have seen some promising results from
early research with Kiwivax on Psa in seedlings
which could provide opportunities for control
in the future, but further testing is required.”
“We recommend soil conditions at your
proposed time of application are taken
into account. Kiwivax is designed as a root
drench so after rain is a good time and before
composting is also a great opportunity to
create a good nutrient-rich environment for
the Trichoderma.”
The seedling trials evolved into potted field
trials in the open orchard where Kiwivax has
performed well on its own, as well as also
improving the performance of other elicitors
when applied in conjunction.
Alistair Pullin, from Agrimm Technologies,
explains how Kiwivax works. “Kiwivax aims to
colonise the plant roots and there seems to be
a two-fold response in kiwifruit plants. We see
a stress defence response which is observed
by its improved resistance to pathogen
stress. We also see a growth response which
appears to be the result of increased nutrient
uptake and more efficient photosynthesis.
This enables the plant to thrive even when
diverting resources to fighting disease.”
Alistair says: “The best time to introduce
Kiwivax’s trio of Trichoderma to the roots is
as early as possible so as a seedling at the
nursery is a great time.
Kiwivax root sample
8
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
“However Kiwivax is designed to populate
fresh, new feeder roots and two key periods of
The recommended application rate is 200 g/ha
in a water rate of around 1000 l/ha for an
effective drench. The suggested application
range is at least 1 m either side of the vines if
you are not broadcast spraying.
Features of Kiwivax:
• Certified to BioGro and all worldwide
organic standards
• Two-fold response in kiwifruit plants
– improved resistance to pathogen
stress and increased nutrient uptake
and more efficient photosynthesis
For further information about Kiwivax,
please speak with your local Fruitfed
Supplies horticultural sales representative or
store personnel.
Viticulture Sector
Luna Sensation – new chemistry for powdery
mildew control in grapes
Luna® Sensation, new chemistry from
Bayer CropScience, offers growers a highly
effective management tool for powdery
mildew.
Powdery mildew has become increasingly
problematic for grape growers in the last few
seasons. Marc Fox, Bayer CropScience territory
manager, says the release of Luna® Sensation
gives growers a new, effective option for their
powdery mildew control programme.
Luna Sensation is a co-formulation of
two active ingredients, fluopyram and
trifloxystrobin, that combine to provide
synergistic activity. Fluopyram is new SDHI
(succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor) chemistry
discovered by Bayer which acts within the
mitochondria preventing the source of energy
within the fungus.
“Luna Sensation has protectant, systemic,
translaminar and vapour activities that
provide outstanding control of powdery
mildew,” Marc says.
Luna Sensation has a label claim for two
applications from the pre-flowering through
to 80% cap-fall timing at a rate of 150 ml/ha.
“When used as directed Luna Sensation
leaves no residues so is suitable for use in nildetectable residue programmes” adds Marc.
Luna Sensation has shown remarkable
powdery mildew control in field trials
throughout New Zealand.
Photographic evidence from 2014 trials with Luna
Sensation in Marlborough – untreated (left), treated
(right)
Sean Gresham, Fruitfed Supplies Hawke’s
Bay-based technical advisor has tested
Luna Sensation in his field trials, and says:
“Data from our own trials and from external
contractors has consistently shown that using
Luna Sensation results in very low powdery
mildew infection within the canopy and
on bunches. We test products side-by-side
to assess the relative efficacies and Luna
Sensation stands out as a top performer
which provides the confidence that it will be
an excellent component of a robust powdery
mildew programme.”
Luna Sensation contains an active ingredient
from the QoI chemical group and one from
the SDHI group. Recent resistance screening
conducted by Crop and Food Research has
shown reduced sensitivity of the powdery
mildew pathogen to QoI fungicides. Therefore,
recommended resistance management
strategies for single active ingredient products
should be followed when using Luna
Sensation. A key aspect of this is to alternate
chemical groups, so if two Luna Sensation
applications are made, the application of a
different powdery mildew-effective product
(from a different chemical group) should
be made between the Luna Sensation
applications. If this is not achieveable with
your powdery mildew programme, only one
application of Luna Sensation should be used
per season.
Shark proves its worth
Andrew Gifford and his father Max have
been using Shark® for vineyard disbudding
for 4-5 seasons.
accept as par for the course. This season we
had ideal spraying conditions and had very
little spotting.”
At first the Marlborough grape growers
used a local spray contractor who made the
Shark applications across their 66 hectare
vineyard. Three seasons ago they purchased
a Croplands shielded sprayer and have been
doing the spraying themselves.
Andrew uses Shark at the label rate of
300 ml/100 l and also believes it is helping
with his weed control by pushing the next
herbicide spray round back a few more weeks.
This is from the desiccant action of the Shark,
that lands on the weeds in the inter-row area.
Andrew says: “We are very happy with the
disbudding that Shark does for us with
generally no need for any follow-up hand
bud-rubbing.
“The other aspect of Shark disbudding I like
is the fact that I can get this job quickly done
in 2-3 days and hence don’t need to organise
and supervise people to bud-rub. I can do it
in my own time and have complete control of
the job.”
“We only do the one pass, once the trunk
shoots are about 15-20 cm in length. The
tractor front mounted shielded sprayer we
use works well and we only get a minimal
amount of cosmetic leaf spotting that we
His shielded sprayer works well with his
2.75 – 3.0 m x 1.8 m row spacing and he
travels around 6-8 km/h.
Marlborough grape grower Andrew Gifford with his
Fruitfed Supplies representative Aaron Thompson
beside the Croplands shielded sprayer he uses for
Shark disbudding applications
Pete de Jong Etec Crop Solutions Regional
Manager has calculated Andrew’s Shark
disbudding cost and believes with tractor,
sprayer, driver and Shark it works out to be
about four cents per vine.
Andrew’s Fruitfed Supplies horticultural sales
representative Aaron Thompson says that he
thought this season’s Shark use on this vineyard
was one best results he had seen to date.
Shark® is a registered trade mark of FMC Corporation, USA
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
9
Viticulture Sector
Flute fungicide helps break the resistance cycle
Flute is new, alternative chemistry with
no known cross resistance to help protect
grapevines from powdery mildew.
demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), is a very real
challenge in most growing areas following last
season’s widespread difficulty in controlling
powdery mildew.
hours. Flute was launched commercially late
last year and performed really well, in some
cases under high disease pressure.
David notes that Flute must be used as a
protectant with the first application starting
from pre-flowering.
Powdery mildew, Erysiphe necator, on
grapevines can develop resistance to
fungicides with site-specific modes of
action, and the disease’s resistance to some
fungicides in a typical spray programme
puts vineyards at risk of decreased powdery
mildew control.
“As a new, standalone fungicide that is
not related to any other powdery mildew
fungicide, Flute offers grape growers an
alternative protectant chemistry to help fight
powdery mildew this season and break the
potential cycle of resistance.”
David Lingan, regional manager for Etec
Crop Solutions, says: “Fungicide resistance,
particularly with two fungicide groups,
quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and
A group U6 phenyl-acetamide fungicide, Flute
or cyflufenamid is active at five stages of the
powdery mildew lifecycle. It has vapour and
translaminar activity, and is rainfast in two
“Pre-bunch closure is the final use time to
meet pre-harvest interval requirements.
“To have an effective, super protectant
powdery mildew fungicide that can be relied
upon means growers have a viable option to
break the resistance cycle of powdery mildew
in their vineyards.”
Early season sulphur applications need help
The activity of sulphur against
powdery mildew on grape vines
relies on both good spray coverage
for contact activity plus warm
temperatures for volatisation.
Pete de Jong, Etec Crop Solutions’
regional manager, says: “Good
coverage comes from ensuring that
spray droplets land and stay on the leaf
canopy. This is called deposition. Lab
studies have identified that the upper
surface of a grape leaf is moderately
difficult to wet and the underside
of the leaf is very difficult to wet, so
getting sulphur sprays to deposit and
spread on a leaf can be challenging.
“Therefore the addition of a good
adjuvant with sulphur sprays makes
sense to ensure its efficacy. Actiwett
has been tested with sulphur
applications over the past three
seasons in New Zealand vineyards,
and good deposition, spreading and
crop safety have all been achieved.”
Pete suggests growers need to
check with their suppliers regarding
10
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
the type of adjuvant they are using.
“Some are banned in Europe due to
environmental issues, for example,
with the nonyl and octyl phenol
ethoxylate-based products. Also some
adjuvants may not have been tested
in New Zealand so always ask to see
some trial data.”
Du-Wett® is another well-known and
well tested vineyard adjuvant and being
a super-spreader, it can also be used
with sulphur applications and offers the
benefits and cost saving of low volume
spraying and the best coverage.
Canterbury vineyard trial 2014-15
Two applications @ 700 l/ha
90
80
% leaves infected with powdery mildew
Three seasons of testing have
demonstrated Actiwett®’s ability to
help with the droplet deposition
and spreading of early season
sulphur applications.
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
pre treat
3 DAT1
7 DAT1
4 DAT2
7 DAT2
14 DAT2
Days after treatment
Pete says: “Actiwett, with its low use
rates, gives very good deposition
and spreading, hence getting the
coverage needed. Powdery mildew
disease control will be improved as
seen in our trials (see graph). As a nonionic adjuvant, ActiWett is also both
environmentally and crop safe.”
Untreated
Sulphur 8 kg/ha
Sulphur 8 kg/ha + Actiwett 75 ml/100l
Actiwett spreading lab study (mm²) on cabbage seedlings, 2015
A detailed controlled trial on hard-to-wet brassicas was undertaken by the
independent New Zealand laboratory, Plant Protection Chemistry NZ. The
results show dramatic differences in spreading with the different adjuvants.
% Powdery mildew leaf area infected
mm2 of spread
For further information on the use
of Actiwett or Du-Wett with early
season sulphur applications, growers
should talk to their Fruitfed Supplies
representative.
Du-Wett® is a registered trademark of Elliott
Chemicals Limited, NZ. Actiwett® is a registered
trademark of Loveland Products Inc, USA.
Wetcit® is a registered trademark of Oro Agri
International Ltd.
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Wetcit®
Actiwett®
Du-wett®
30ml/100l
50ml/100l
100ml/100l
200ml/100l
* Products not tested as the rate is off the label recommendation
Crop Nutrition
How to decide about seaweed fertilisers
There are many seaweed-based
plant nutrition products available in
New Zealand, so how do growers decide
which to use?
“Growers often say to me they are constantly
bombarded with people trying to sell
seaweed-derived bio-stimulants,” says Glen
Baylis, North Island manager/agronomist for
Yara Fertilisers New Zealand. “So what should
growers look for when making that choice?
“I recommend, first, talking with your Fruitfed
Supplies horticultural sales representative.
All products supplied through Fruitfed by
your rep have to be trialled and tested in
New Zealand conditions before being made
available for growers to use. It’s worth noting
that many bio-stimulants (and other products)
currently being sold in New Zealand have not
been through this process.
“Check the species of seaweed used and
the area in which it is harvested. There are
approximately 12,000 varieties of seaweed
worldwide and 850 seaweed species in
New Zealand alone, so location and habitat
can determine the quality and quantity of
active material that can be found in the algae,”
Glen says.
“Ensure the products are harvested,
manufactured and marketed by companies
that are well known and respected in
the bio-stimulant/fertiliser industry. Try a
google search. What does the seaweed
claim to do, and can these claims be
backed up by scientific data which relates
to the product concerned? Many product
labels and technical sheets use generic
information to explain a product’s mode
of action. A company that has invested
their time and money to research and
explain the specific mode of action of their
products is offering scientific information
on which to base your decisions.”
Glen and the team from Yara New Zealand
distribute the Goëmar range of seaweed
filtrates, including Calibra and BM Start, in
New Zealand through PGG Wrightson and
Fruitfed Supplies.
and fight off certain pathogens. Subsequent
studies have proved the effect and mode of
action of the Goëmar filtrates on the plant’s
own capacity to adsorb nutrients and to
improve flowering and fruit-set.
“Goëmar is a French company with over
30 years’ experience in the manufacturing
and research of seaweed based compounds,”
says Glen. “Goëmar’s products are based
on Ascophyllum nodosum, an alga which
grows off the Brittany coast in north-west
France which has one of the highest tidal
movements in the world. By constantly
moving from submerged surroundings to a
fresh air environment, the alga has developed
specific mechanisms capable of resisting
extreme conditions.”
Goëmar have developed a patented filtration
process which enables the production of
a new generation seaweed filtrate (GA142)
with a high oligosaccharide concentration.
This current range of filtrates available in New
Zealand includes Calibra and BM Start.
Government regulates the harvest to ensure
the species remains a renewable source,
and harvest is completed in a short four
month window to ensure the active material
is consistent. Goëmar has researched the
fortifying/stimulating effects of algae on
crops, demonstrating it contains hormones
like cytokinins and auxins, amino-acids,
trace elements, vitamins and sugars
(oligosaccharides) which are also referred to
as ‘elicitors’ that tell plants to grow, flower, fruit
“Goëmar products are
designed to stimulate
nutrition to improve plant
health, leaf condition and
fruit development on a
variety of crops”
“Goëmar products are designed to stimulate
nutrition to improve plant health, leaf
condition and fruit development on a variety
of crops,” says Glen. “GA142 seaweed filtrates
also stimulate the plant’s ability to produce
polyamines, which are naturally-occurring
plant growth regulators involved during
pollination and fruit formation. Studies show
by increasing these critical polyamine levels,
improved flowering and fruit-set can result,
especially under difficult flowering conditions.”
In 2013 Goëmar opened the Phytopolis
research station. The 3000 m² facility enables
Goëmar to carry out the first screening of
research products before testing in the field in
different regions around the world.
For more information about the use of
Calibra and BM Start including rates, timings
and tank-mixing, contact your local Fruitfed
Supplies representative.
Glen adds: “Another good question is do
the products tank-mix with commonly used
agrochemicals? Many growers want the
efficiency of compatible tank mixes to reduce
application costs, so once again, you want
up-to-date tank-mix compatibility information
from the manufacturer.
“Finally what track record does the product
have in New Zealand, locally or nationally, and
across a broad range of crops? Again, consult
your Fruitfed rep.”
A Goëmar trial with Merlot grapes, showing untreated
crop (left) and BM Start-treated crop (right)
The harvested Ascophyllum nodosum
seaweed used in Goëmar products
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
11
Product Updates
Benevia now established in onion programme
DuPont™ Benevia® insecticide now has
an established place in onion protection
programmes in the Pukekohe region.
applications of Benevia, sometimes a third
which is the maximum recommended for
resistance management.”
“Benevia has given a more than acceptable
level of onion thrips control even
under high pressure situations, so I am
confident for it to have a place in my spray
programme,” says Andrew Luxmoore of
Fruitfed Supplies in Pukekohe.
He says growers doing their own monitoring
should be aware that the product does
not give fast knockdown, so onion thrips
may remain on the plant for up to five days
following application before dying.
Once the onion thrips threshold has been
reached in crops, growers typically continue
spraying at recommended intervals. For
resistance management, it necessary to rotate
between different modes of action – another
reason Andrew has welcomed Benevia into his
onion programme.
“It’s great that we have another option
with the alternate chemistry offered by
Benevia. This will help to extend the life of all
chemistry,” says Andrew. “I tend to use it in the
middle of my onion thrips spray programme.
I would normally make two back-to-back
“Having a 500 ml use rate for onions and
potatoes certainly makes life simple for us, and
the user safety aspect is also important both
from the applicator point of view and from a
crop monitoring perspective.”
Leighton Whitfield, Gypsum product manager
for Winstone Wallboards, says: “As growers
know, avocados are also very prone to ‘wetfeet’ fungal disease problems. That’s where
Gypsum’s ability to improve soil structure,
Monitoring onion crops for thrips
drainage and aeration, particularly where the
underlying soil is heavy, is also very important
with avocados and their susceptibility to
Phytophthora root rot.
“This disease is exacerbated by poor drainage
and by anaerobic soil conditions, so the
physical improvements that gypsum can
make to soil structure will assist to reduce
the severity and incidence of Phytophthora
infections. In addition, a lower soil pH
has a suppressive effect on P. cinnamomi.
Therefore Gypsum has both positive effects
on soil structure and can help to create soil
conditions that suppress development of
Phytophthora root rot, while not lifting the pH
as lime would.”
Avocados are litter feeders, with most of their
‘feeder’ roots in the top 10 cm of soil and in
the natural organic mulch under the tree.
Leighton suggests periodically applying
additional well-composted mulch
12
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
• Benevia is an anthranilic diamide (Group
28) insecticide, an alternatetool for onion,
potato and tomato insecticide rotation
programmes to help with resistance
management.
• It’s from the same family as DuPont™
Coragen® insecticide, but has crossspectrum activity on both chewing and
sucking insect pests.
• Benevia targets muscle function, paralysing
the insect to stop feeding quickly, resulting
eventually in death to reduce the damage
to your crop.
• Benevia is rainfast just two hours after
application.
Gypsum offers calcium for
avocados without raising pH
Avocados are very susceptible to calcium
deficiency and they require a lower soil pH
between 5.8 and 6.3, which means lime is
often not suitable to correct a soil calcium
deficiency. So a pH-neutral, high calcium
product like Gypsum can deliver the
high calcium levels required by this crop
without raising soil pH.
Key points about Benevia:
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and, Coragen,
Benevia® are trademarks or registered trademarks of
DuPont or its affiliates.
containing mostly ground wood to avocado
trees as it provides better Phytophthora
control than naturally-dropped leaves.
“And reapply gypsum as the old material
dissolves from view, little and often. A
gypsum programme should ideally start
before critical sodium and potassium levels
are reached, so regular soil tests will help
determine the critical nutrient levels.”
Lindsay Heard, of Brenmark Horticultural
Consultants, adds to Leighton’s advice, saying:
“I have observed the benefits of annual
Gypsum applications over many years in
a range of soil types and I will continue to
recommend Gypsum in fertiliser programmes
for avocados.”
Vege Tech Bytes
Now that we are into spring and temperatures are rising, insect numbers in crops also start to
increase. Spring is the beginning of the new crop monitoring season and two of the biggest crops in
which monitoring occurs in are potatoes and onions.
Potato monitoring covers all the major
plant diseases and insect pests, but a lot of
monitoring in potatoes is targeted around
tracking the population of tomato potato
psyllid (TPP). Potato monitoring in Pukekohe
has found TPP in commercial potato crops
as early as September. TPP is a pest that
needs to be controlled early because once
the insect establishes, the population can
increase rapidly if not controlled effectively.
An advantage to crop monitoring is that
information on the populations of beneficial
insects is also recorded. The increasing
Potato-tomato psyllid nymphs
(Photo: Alton N Sparks, Bugwood.org)
Kevin Manning
contributes Tech-Know
Tips for pipfruit,
summerfruit and grapes.
temperatures also help the population of
beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybirds
and hoverflys. Early in the season, when psyllid
populations are low, these beneficial insects
can offer effective control of TPP. If the decision
is made to apply an insecticide, choose one
that will have as little impact on beneficial
insect populations as possible.
Onion thrips are another insect pest that
can have rapid increases in population over
a short period of time. Onion thrips can be
found in onion crops in Pukekohe/Waikato
any time from October onwards, or even
Onion thrips
(Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Bugwood.org)
Tayah Ryan
contributes Tech-Know
Tips for avocados,
citrus and kiwifruit.
earlier depending on conditions. There is a
range of chemical control options for onion
thrips and the selection of these needs to
be based off what is happening in the crop.
Information around insect population, ration
of adult thrips to juvenile thrips and the
population increase from last week, can all be
used to identify the product that will be best
suited for the situation.
Aphid flights also increase in spring. While
there are aphids that are typically found on
only one crop type (e.g. lettuce aphid, onion
aphid, and potato aphid), there are also species
such as the green-peach aphid that can be
found in a range of crops. Aphids are a threat
not only because of the damage that their
feeding causes on the crop but because they
can easily spread viruses.
Spring is a time of year when everything is
growing, unfortunately this also means insect
pests. By monitoring crops regularly, informed
decisions can be made around the selection,
timing of application, or need of, any control
options necessary.
Daniel Sutton
contributes Vege Tech
Bytes.
For further information on best practice pest and disease control, crop monitoring and nutrient testing,
please contact your local Fruitfed Supplies store or horticultural sales representative.
Tech-Know Tips
Avocados
Reminders for October:
»Be aware of PHI requirements heading into
harvest.
»Regular crop monitoring is important during
spring to ensure you have the best information
for crop management decisions and are
complying with AvoGreen® regulations.
»Bee-safe control options for six-spotted mite
during flowering are limited, so controlling
populations pre-flower is important.
»Foliar boron and zinc (Bortrac and Zintrac)
should be applied well pre-flower to ensure
these critical micronutrients are available for
pollination and fruit-set. Timing is important
for best efficacy. Additionally, to improve overall
tree health and functionality, consider regular
applications of specially-formulated seaweed
products such as Calibra.
»As the weather warms and rainfall increases,
anthracnose infection risk will increase.
Continue to maintain a fungicide cover on
fruit with copper products such as Kocide®
Opti™ or Tri-Base Blue® which offer fungicidal
protection for fruit while giving little visible
residue, a consideration prior to harvest.
»For blocks going into a heavy ON-year, consider
the use of Sunny® for increasing fruit size.
Timing is critical for best results.
The graph below shows Fruitfed Supplies
Crop Monitoring results for leaf roller
from Katikati avocado orchards. As is clear
from both seasons, leaf roller populations
begin to increase through October. Larvae
are commonly found between touching
fruit, which can cause a significant level of
chewing damage if not controlled. Once
larvae become established, contacting them
with spray applications becomes extremely
difficult. The use of D-C-Tron® Plus Organic oil
or the super-spreader Du-Wett® will greatly
improve coverage with insecticides, thus
increasing control. Prodigy™ contains the
active ingredient methoxyfenozide, which is
highly effective against leaf roller larvae and
eggs, persistent, but soft on beneficial insects
including bees. Altacor® is another efficacious
option for growers. This novel chemistry is
highly specific to leaf roller with virtually no
effect on other insect groups. Be aware of PHI
requirements before spraying.
Average number of leaf roller on Katikati orchards
in the two previous seasons
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
13
Tech-Know Tips
Citrus
Reminders for September:
»Some of the early flowering varieties or regions
will need to be aware of Kelly’s citrus thrips
on young fruitlets after petal-fall this month.
Sparta™ has recently been registered for use in
citrus for Kelly’s citrus and greenhouse thrips,
and offers good efficacy. Coverage is essential.
»Regular crop monitoring is an important
consideration through spring and summer,
as it can assist with making timely and
well thought-out decisions regarding pest
control. From a grower perspective, mapping
pest pressure over different blocks can also
give some personalised benefits in terms
Kiwifruit
Reminders for September:
»Cold soil temperatures in spring limit root
and soil microbe activity, which can inhibit
good canopy development pre-flower. Foliar
fertilisers such as Croplift are often used before
flowering, as they supply essential nutrients
directly to the plant through the leaf tissue.
Depending on leaf test results, other foliar
fertilisers (e.g. Zinrac) may also be required
to alleviate specific deficiencies. Speciallyformulated seaweed fertilisers such as Calibra
should also be considered where growth is slow,
or new leaf is damaged by cold temperatures,
wind or frost. Application at this timing
promotes healthy leaf growth and early leaf
size, ensuring optimal photosynthesis.
»If stress events like cold weather are anticipated,
consider an application of Megafol, preferably
before, but otherwise directly after, the event to
assist with recovery.
»Beware of potential frost events following
bud-break. Ideally, overhead water or OrchardRite® wind machines should be utilised for frost
fighting. If these are not available, consider
Wine Grapes
Reminders for September:
» If the mealybug threshold was triggered last
season, best practice is to apply a high-volume
Tokuthion plus oil spray at woolly bud and
follow up with pre-flower buprofezin (Mortar®
or Ovation®) sprays timed for 10-14 day
pre-bloom and immediately pre-bloom.
»If erinose mite was a problem last season,
Organic JMS Stylet® oil is a highly effective
product that will work irrespective of
temperature at time of application. Follow label
directions carefully.
» For growers who’ve experienced downy mildew
problems in recent years, it is vital to protect the
newly emerged growth this season. Between
bud-break and bloom use regular applications
14
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015
of highlighting problem areas consistently
having high pest pressure, which may have
implications for how those areas are managed.
»The fungicide programme needs to be
maintained up to and post-flowering to protect
against scab and melanose infection of young
shoots and fruitlets.
»Cool spring conditions can limit nutrient
availability and uptake by the root system,
so consider the use of foliar fertilisers and
specialist seaweed products, such as Calibra,
to promote strong flowering and fruit set.
Timing is critical.
Citrus white fly can be a significant issue
for growers who don’t employ an effective
control programme. The secretion of honey
applications of low-biuret urea (<0.5% biuret)
immediately prior to risk-periods, to improve
frost resistance.
»Keep an eye on developing grafts. A number
of pests can attack young graft tissue and can
cause serious damage. Control as necessary
with baits and suitable foliar insecticides.
»If applying Luna® Privilege pre-flower, timing
is essential; be sure to apply <7 days out from
flowering.
Spring is a high-risk period for Psa infection
in kiwifruit. Cooler temperatures, frequent rain
events and soft spring growth combine to
increase the vines susceptibility to infection.
Tight protective spray programmes are critical ,
particularly in the first 4-5 weeks after budbreak. Research conducted by Plant and Food
Research clearly shows a strong correlation
between leaf age and susceptibility to
infection. Maintain regular covers of protectant
type products, aiming to cover new growth.
Regular applications of Kocide Opti should be
intertwined with an application of Kasumin®
and/or Key Strepto™ (max. two bactericides
allowed per season) to reduce resistance risk.
These bactericides are best targeted at the
of Dithane® Rainshield Neotec in anticipation of
wet weather. Ensure good coverage.
» Black spot also requires a good early-season
preventative fungicide programme to stop its
spread onto healthy foliage. Watch the weather
forecasts and apply a cover of Delan® or
Dithane Rainshield Neotec before it rains.
The establishment of the sexual stage of
powdery mildew in New Zealand, with its
characteristic overwintering chasmothecia
present on vine cordons and shoots and its
ability to release ascospores during spring
following wet events, presents a significant
new source of disease infection. This is in
addition to our historical asexual stage of
inoculum, in the form of conidia, released
from flag shoots soon after bud-burst. Even if
flag shoots are not evident in your vineyard,
control strategies cannot be ignored,because
dew can lead to growth of sooty mould,
reducing fruit quality and general tree health.
Control of this pest requires a combination of
regular monitoring and targeted insecticide
applications. Research conducted by Dr.
Lisa Jamieson shows adult citrus whitefly
emerge from October onwards, with eggs
present from October right through to midJanuary. Controlling these adults will reduce
the total numbers of eggs laid, thus reducing
populations moving into summer. The first
insecticide application targeting adults is
best timed to when the majority of adults
have emerged. Regular crop monitoring
will assist with determining the dominant
lifecycle stage present.
early development stage after bud-break when
risk is highest. It is important to note the rules
and regulations surrounding the use of Key
Strepto and Kasumin, including the use of drift
reduction technology (i.e. AI nozzles). Read the
relevant user guides and Zespri CPP before use.
The pre-flower period is also a critical period
for pest and disease control in kiwifruit, as
options become limited from flowering
onwards. Prodigy has the best fit in this slot for
leaf roller with its excellent ovicidal activity
and relative persistency. This may be mixed
with Movento® 100SC,a high-value scale
control product with both phloem and xylem
mobility within the plant. Ensure at least 5-7
days is maintained between copper and
Movento applications, as copper is proven to
reduce the uptake of Movento.
Psa bud rot in Hayward kiwifruit
conidia are ubiquitous in the environment and
therefore disease is a constant threat when
conditions are conducive for infection.
Start your powdery mildew spray programme
soon after bud-break and maintain a tight
cover. Organic JMS Stylet™ oil is highly
effective in the early part of the season,
irrespective of temperature. Powdery mildew
is also sensitive to sulphur, due mainly to the
toxic vapours released from solution as it dries
on foliage. More vapour is released at high
temperatures so for best results, spray only on
warm days or the warmest part of the day.
Chasmothecia
Flag shoot
Tech-Know Tips
Pipfruit
Reminders for October:
» Apples and pears are at greatest risk of
fireblight infection during the bloom
period as the bacteria readily infect flowers.
Control relies on the timing of strategic sprays
preferably prior to infection periods.
» The correct timing for Regalis, the plant growth
regulator, for inhibition of shoot growth is
vital in obtaining best results with it. The first
application should be timed for 2-5cm shoot
growth.
» Check the Pipfruit New Zealand web site for
codling moth Biofix + GDD timing details
for your district. The application of Altacor® or
Prodigy® is recommended at this timing.
During this primary infection period, ensure
your black spot protectant programme is
based on a 6-7 day interval to protect new
evolving leaves and fruitlet surfaces. Peak black
spot ascospore production occurs between
mid/late September and late October/early
November. However ascospores are released
between bud-break and mid-December. As
little as 0.2 mm of rain is sufficient to stimulate
the release of ascospores.
SHDI (Group 7) fungicides such as Fontelis,
Sercadis and Serguris Flexi, which are complex
11 respiration inhibitors and not cross
resistant to strobilurin or DMI fungicides, are
Summerfruit
Reminders for October:
»Maintain a protectant fungicide programme
over the shuck-fall period for effective brown
rot control.
»If leaf curl has not been controlled by early
season fungicides and symptoms are present
on foliage, then it will be necessary to apply
suitable protectant fungicide prior to wet
events.
hugely useful. Fruitfed Supplies research with
Fontelis in New Zealand, as well as USA and
European research, demonstrates its excellent
activity on both black spot and powdery
mildew. Studies also demonstrate a higher
level of rainfastness of the SHDI chemistry, a
vital attribute during wet spring conditions
when peak ascospore production can
produce severe infection periods.
Remember FRAC resistance management
guidelines for SHDI chemistry:
• Apply with a black spot protectant fungicide
from a different mode of action group
• Use in single or block applications, and no
more than two consecutive applications in a
block
• Alternate with fungicides from a different
chemistry group such as Polyram (or +
Megastar or Score) if curative reach back is
required
light brown apple moth). As a moth, they
are also relatively mobile, immigrating into
an orchard from surrounding host plants.
Orchards with nearby scrub patches or shelter
belts, and/or an overgrown and diverse
inter-row/headland sward tend to have high
leaf roller pressure. Removal of host plants
can significantly reduce resident leaf roller
populations, as can frequent mowing of the
orchard floor during the growing season and
stock grazing in winter.
Mating disruption for summerfruit provides
an alternative tool. Dispensers release an
invisible cloud of synthetic mating pheromone
appropriate insecticide (e.g. Success
Naturalyte™) if thresholds are exceeded. Check
PHI periods for export crops with your exporter.
23.8
GA4 + GA7 product
15.5
Novagib
12.5
Novagib® is an almost pure GA4 product
with 92-97% in its makeup. Best results are
achieved when a Novagib programme is
started during flowering, with up to four
applications at 10-day intervals through the
fruit-set and early development period. Good
coverage is important, so use a water rate that
will achieve this.
Black spot on apple leaf
Gibberellins encourage cell division and
elongation, fruits from treated trees display
better cells, in greater numbers. They make the
skin tissue more elastic and therefore more
resistant to scarring. Two gibberellins, GA4 and
Leaf roller moth larvae are able to sustain
themselves on hundreds of different plant
species (in excess of 250 known hosts for the
»Monitor for leaf rollers and apply an
Control
Note: Fontelis 50% petal-fall PHI. Sercadis and
Serguris Flexi 90% petal-fall PHI. Megastar
petal-fall PHI.
Leaf rollers can inflict significant yield losses
if left uncontrolled. Their grazing feeding
habit generally leaves an unsightly wound
that makes fruit unsalable. Also, their feeding
activity can also leave potential infection
sites on which opportunistic diseases (e.g.
brown rot and Botrytis) may establish, further
exacerbating crop losses.
and, if justified, spray an appropriate insecticide
as early season control of aphids is essential to
prevent large population build-ups.
Percentage of fruit with greater than 10% russet
(var. Pacific Rose)
• A maximum total of four SHDI applications
per season.
Insecticides are currently still the mainstay
control method. Choose selective and
environmentally-benign insecticides such
as Prodigy™, registered for peach and
nectarines, which is a synthesised copy of
the lepidopteran moulting hormone and
works by inducing a premature, incomplete
and fatal moult. Success Naturalyte and
Sparta are derived from a soil bacterium and,
like Prodigy, has good selectivity towards
caterpillars and a favourable safety profile. If
your block has a history of leaf roller pressure,
start a programme soon after petal-fall and if
monitoring indicates high levels, maintain a
tight cover through until harvest. Check the
Summerfruit New Zealand grower manual for
the market acceptance of each crop type with
these products, as well as their PHIs.
»Continue to monitor for aphid infestations
GA7, are effective at inhibiting fruit russeting.
Research also shows that of these two, GA4 has
a greater effect. Research conducted by the
Fruitfed Supplies Technical team supports this:
into the orchard atmosphere, confusing male
moths and inhibiting their ability to locate
females. The effect is to reduce within-block
reproduction and lower larva numbers on
trees. The Isomate 3NZLR product targets
all three economically-significant leaf roller
species in New Zealand (green headed,
brown headed and light brown apple moth).
Advantages of mating disruption include:
reduced insecticide inputs, very low to
nil insecticide residues on fruit (opening
up market access for export growers) and
season-long control. When using mating
disruption, monitor male flight activity with
10x concentrate pheromone caps and spray
an appropriate insecticide if thresholds
are triggered. Consult your technical field
representative to ensure mating disruption
suits your orchard.
Leaf roller larvae
OCTOBER 2015 | FACTS NEWSLETTER
15
Product Updates
Precision Hawk provides better data for smarter
business decisions
Every grower faces the challenge of
making the right call for their crop, but are
your decisions based on incomplete data?
Stephen Wrigley, from BioStart, introduces
a new crop mapping service called
Precision Hawk.
Better decisions start with better data, and
the first step in making better decisions is
data collection.
Precision Hawk uses a combination of fixed
wing and quad copters drones or UAV
(unmanned aerial vehicles) to conduct
aerial surveys of the targeted orchard,
vineyard or block.
The collection of high resolution aerial images
will change the way you view your operation,
and Precision Hawk sensors see things that the
naked eye can’t pick up giving you incredibly
accurate and useful information.
Our experience shows the fixed wing
drones are better for large scale arable crop
monitoring while the quad copters are ideal
for orchards where landing sites may be
limited by windbreaks.
Precision Hawk drones use a combination of
sensors – for the high res aerial photographs
we use modified DSLR cameras. Each raw
photo is around 22MB with a resolution of
1 cm/pixel at 60 m. The image is so detailed
you can zoom in and see individual buds on a
The Precision Hawk quad copter drone with
DSLR camera and multispectral sensors
A raw, unprocessed vineyard image from the Precision Hawk sensor
tree or vine. A single hectare may be made up
of 20-100 photos depending on the resolution
required which are then stitched together and
normalised to produce either a single 2D or
3D image. The images can then be analysed
by a range of sophisticated algorithms to
produce reports on canopy cover, irrigation
efficiency, plant counts, weed detection, or
frost damage.
When analysed, these images can give insight
into plant health and disease outbreaks and
pressure before they can be picked up by
human the human eye. One of the benefits of
the images is that each pixel is geo-located so
if you need to concentrate a spray in a certain
area you will know exactly where to spray.
Better decisions start with
better data, and the first
step in making better
decisions is data collection.
The Precision Hawk digital crop monitoring
service is available through your local
Fruitfed Supplies store and additional
information is available from Stephen Wrigley
[email protected]
The drones are also mounted with
multispectral sensors. These scan for up to five
bands of light beyond what the human eye
can see – narrowband, blue, green, red, red
edge and near infrared. These wavelengths of
light penetrate the leaf and are reflected back
by different layers within the leaf. If the plant is
under stress it will give off a unique signature.
This level of information offers growers
valuable insight into how to manage their
crop and drive profitability.
The fixed wing version of the Precision Hawk
Facts is a monthly publication of Fruitfed Supplies, the horticultural division of PGG Wrightson Ltd.
Feedback to the editor is welcome – contact Kate Gordon-Smith (021 587 227 or [email protected]).
The information contained in this publication is of general nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice in specific cases. All content of this
publication is subject to copyright. Any further use or reproduction of images or content is forbidden without prior permission of Fruitfed Supplies national office. For address
updates, please advise your local Fruitfed Supplies branch or contact the Fruitfed Supplies national office (phone 09 448 0510 or email [email protected]).
16
FACTS NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2015