WELCOME It s a strange part of the year, as we sit there watching bud burst wondering if we re in for more crazy high numbers, and then of the crop we re shipping we re wondering if it will continue to behave itself. With a sizeable tail to the Green shipping, we ve still got a way to go, but things are going well so far. For Gold it s pretty much complete, and once again a strong performer in Cool chain. The tail-end of the program usually drags out a bit, but the majority of the fruit should be gone Green Conventional by mid-november, Green Organic by beginning November. This next stretch is always a perilous one as we push the time limits of what nature intended, so whilst tracking very well, we re still not cocky, and being very conservative with OGR estimates at this early stage. Repacking for China has been a grind, but happy to do it given the increasing importance of this market the table below shows just how integral China is to the program now. What s inside MD UPDATE OPERATIONAL UPDATE TECHNICAL UPDATE WHAT S ON! CONTACTS 2016 planned shipped trays top 6 markets by volume Green conventional Growers are facing a Taste Review at the moment, as significant headwind being experienced in China. By way of background, we segregate crops into Taste Bands to ensure likes of Japan, get our very best fruit resulting in other markets receiving our lower (M) band fruit. Not a complete surprise that China market (virtually all M-band volume) feedback is there s no difference between our fruit and that of Chilean at damn near half the price. To give you an idea of the impact on Green Conventional, if China prices gravitate toward Chilean product, we could lose up to $NZ5/tray of value, or more than 50c/tray across the pool. That s massive. This is important. We have visibility over millions of trays, and it seems there s still plenty of scope for improvement; wasted resource going into pollination, cell division and growth stages as excessive loadings particularly where flower / fruitlet thinning and summer canopy management is too little, too late, or both. Zespri s flagging a problem: price premiums are under pressure in market for the lower Taste Banded fruit. Yes, it can
MD S UPDATE CONTINUED all be sold, but we ve got one of the highest Grow-cost structures and travel-distances to market in the kiwifruit world our industry relies on the premiums. We have some smart capable people elected by Growers into KGI to work through these critical issues on behalf of all Growers. The issues will undoubtedly attract some animated responses. One of the biggest risks is Industry only hears from opponents, and the silent majority quietly gets on with it. It ll be important to have your say; two of our own Supply Entity Directors are on this Taste Review panel, and we encourage you to make your views known Email Mark Mayston at mark@maniaroa.co.nz or Sean Carnachan at sean@westernorchards.co.nz Balance to ship as at beginning week 39 (26Sept) 2016 2015 Trays in % of Trays in % of store submit store submit HW1CK 19.1m 12.6m 15% HW1OB 0.56m 14% 0.35m 9% GA1CK 1.1m 1% 0.1m 0. Green Conventional Shipping Program Industry HW1CK 2015 Industry HW1CK 2016 % Shipped of Submit Green Organic Shipping Program Industry HW1OB 2015 Industry HW1OB 2016 Sweet Green Shipping Program Industry HE1CK 2015 Industry HE1CK 2016 SunGold Shipping Program Industry GA1CK 2015 Industry GA1CK 2016
OPERATIONAL UPDATE DAMIAN YOUNG OPERATIONS MANAGER The Inventory season is still in full swing, we are into the crunch time for the inventory and are working through a couple of very large weeks of shipping. To date the fruit quality has been pretty good we have had the odd line that has not performed to expectations but the team has been busy targeting these lines for shipping. Fruit loaded in the last 4 weeks (Total of 1.95mil) We are getting near the completion of the Sungold inventory and have just on 70k remaining fruit to ship, This fruit is destined for the China market and with the requirement of rework we have been kept busy. Apata (and the industry) are pretty happy with the storage performance of this variety and the low levels of fruit loss for this category. Apata are part of a late storage trial and have fruit loading in a months time which will be a push. We are seeing the first signs of storage defects which is no surprise as it has been in store 20 weeks. We continue to learn and adapt our thinking on how to maximise the value for our growers The Hayward fruit continues to track well, both Organic and conventional are well through there shipping program just under for HWOB and 75% through for HWCK the fruit loss to date is below industry at this point. It has been a challenging season not just inventory to date and will continue to challenge us till the last boat leaves us at end of November. This is the time of the year when we will start seeing fruit firmness and storage behaviour change so a huge amount of focus is on what the fruit behaviour is and looking for the high risk fruit. We are currently reviewing all inventory and matching information from a range of sources - onshore /off shore /internal and external QC inspections and out turn results from the markets. We completed the packing program for 2016 season week 38 the last of the CA stores, again I would like to thank the growers that have been part of this program as it is critical for the success of the inventory and the Apata Pool.
TECHNICAL UPDATE AN UPDATE FROM ZESPRI CRAIG WARD TECHNICAL ADVISOR BIRD PROTECTION As we move into spring, growers should be across the damage birds can inflict on new season growth. Bird damage can be significant and happen extremely quickly, therefore growers must consider carefully how to manage this problem. Cultural methods are encouraged including the use of bird scarers, kites, bangers and clappers, however growers must also consider and adhere to council noise bylaws. Bird repellent sprays are an option, however these products must always be used with caution. Mesurol 200SC is now the only allowed bird repellent spray included in the Zespri Crop Protection Standard. Avex is no longer permitted as residue trials confirmed using Avex may result in residues at harvest. In Spring 2015, there were a number of confirmed bee hive deaths directly associated with the use of Mesurol on kiwifruit orchards. As a result, each new pack of Mesurol now comes with an information sheet highlighting your legal and best practice requirements. Before each application of Mesurol 200SC, growers must ensure: ADDITIONAL BIRD CONTROL INFORMATION Below is a greatly shortened version of an Apata article we published in the Kiwilink a few years ago. The full version of the article can be provided on request (please request through your grower services rep). No control method that involves poisoning birds is allowed, and anyone caught doing this will face a hefty fine from Zespri of $0.20/tray. Some popular options include: Sprays (Conventional) Creates a foul taste to deter birds from eating. Audio (Conventional and Organic) An environmentally friendly option to scare birds out of the orchard. Decoys (Conventional and Organic) Deters birds from staying in the orchard. Foggers (Conventional) Encourages birds to leave the orchard. Attraction (Conventional and Organic) Attracting predator species to the orchard. Flowers in the sward must be removed before applying Mesurol Mesurol must not be applied directly to the shelterbelts AI nozzles and a drift reducing adjuvant must be used You must notify your neighbours at least 12 hours before using Mesurol Nearby beehives must be covered or removed until the product has dried If possible, spray in the morning or late in the day when bees are not actively foraging. Zespri is actively seeking alternatives to Mesurol. Growers wishing to use alternative bird repellent products not listed in the Zespri Crop Protection Standard must apply for a Justified Approval to do so.
TECHNICAL UPDATE CONTINUED AN UPDATE FROM KVH PSA PSA UPDATE The Psa update from KVH is summarised at the end of the Psa webinar section. MANDATORY MONITORING All not detected orchards are required to do a monitor between 15 September and 15 October with results reported to KVH by 31 October. Those in the Whangarei region are required to monitor and report on the following dates: 23 September, 7 October, 21 October, 4 November. New Research Highlights Value of Wound Protectants Research trials, designed to test if wound protectants could provide effective protection against infection by Psa after pruning, have shown copper paste and InocBloc paste consistently protected wounds in both potted plant trials and in Chieftain male vines in the field. These treatments, applied immediately after pruning, provided significant wound protection in both winter and spring. The research also showed that where wound protectants were not applied, the incidence of Chieftain kiwifruit canes naturally infected by Psa in winter increased from 3.3% to in the two weeks after wounding. In spring, the incidence increased from to 72%. This supports messages to apply effective wound protectants immediately after pruning to reduce infection of vines in the field. InocBloc paste is a pine based product. It is listed in the Zespri crop protection standard and is in the process of registration with BioGro. Organic growers interested in using this product must obtain approval prior to use and should contact their BioGro auditor or the BioGro office. Visit http://www.kvh.org.nz/newsroom/c/122/id/1072 for more information. At a recent Psa webinar key updates regarding the research programme and reminders for the coming season were presented. For a full copy of the presentation go to: https://goo.gl/ugucc4 (you will need to register to view the webinar). A summary of the presentation is presented below - any questions please contact Craig Ward or Erin Atkinson. RESISTANCE AND TOLERANT PSA STRAINS The development of resistant and/or tolerant strains of Psa to key control products continues to be a concern to KVH. KVH are running a screening programme to quantify the problem. As an industry we need to mitigate against the risk of loss of product control by always using label rates and as much as possible alternating products (note that alternating Kocide to Nordox doesn t count - they are both coppers and therefore have the same mode of action). Growers need to think of these strains as a new disease and reduce the risk of spread of these strains by avoiding the introduction of plant material (e.g. on machinery or nursery plants not certified by KVH). IS ACTIGARD SAFE TO USE? Over the last couple of seasons there have been some incidences where plants have been significantly adversely impacted by Actigard - observed mainly as stunted growth. However, industry is keen to keep Actigard as part of a Psa management programme due to the low risk of residues, market acceptability and having another tool that assists us with disease control. With this in mind Zespri reported on work where key components of growth were measured on vines receiving three different treatments: no Actigard, label rate, and double label rate. No significant decrease on shoot growth, crop load, fresh weight or dry matter of either Hayward or Gold3 was observed. The caveat remains that the product should not be used on very young or stressed vines. Also growers are reminded that soil application requires a Justified Approval.
TECHNICAL UPDATE CONTINUED WHAT S NEW IN PSA CONTROL? SPRING IS HERE! The team reported on a very promising biological control agent that significantly reduces leaf necrosis which the manufacturer hopes to have available for commercial sale by the end of 2017. Obviously this kind of product is very exciting due to the high level of market acceptability and the option to rotate with coppers. With this in mind Zespri are expanding research in this area with a view to making a range of biologicals available. DO WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE PRE- FLOWERING TRUNK GIRDLE (PFTG) WORKS? The PFTG remains the most effective means of reducing bud rot - in a recent experiment it out-performed all other control options reducing bud rot from 18% in untreated vines to 6% and this is consistent with previous trials where the PFTG was the most effective in most cases. We strongly recommend that growers with a history of bud rot utilise this disease management option. But how does it work? Recent research has shed some light on a possible explanation. As you are hopefully aware bacteria thrive in moist, warm (but not too warm) environments. During the active growth phase as the plant sucks water out of the ground and distributes it through the various parts of the plant, guttation (or water seepage) occurs out of the tiny holes in organs such as leaves and flower buds. The PFTG has been found to significantly decrease guttation (water seepage) by reducing root pressure (think of how size and dry matter girdling holds carbohydrates in the canopy) hence scientists believe the micro-climate is less favourable for Psa. We have had a number of questions about the long-term sustainability of the PFTG, particularly in combination with size and taste girdles. Zespri reported that following two years of PFTG vines showed no negative affects versus ungirdled vines. It wasn t clear what other girdles (size and DM) were being done to these vines. This work is on-going. As experience shows Spring is a key time for remaining vigilant when it comes to Psa management. Please refer to the recently published Apata GROW spray programme for agrichemical options. Some other things to remember during the coming months: Avoid collecting flowers for pollen milling from symptomatic vines. Utilise the KVH risk model to time spray applications at this link: http://www.kvh.org.nz/ kiwi_psa A tutorial video for the risk model is available here: https://goo.gl/pctqwi The Zespri Crop Protection Standard has made some significant changes to the use of bactericides. One application of Kasumin is allowed but if you are applying more than one Kasumin or any Streptomycin a Justified Approval is required. An OPIS form is required for any bactericide applications available here: https://goo.gl/ltjfws Ambitious use is limited to one preflowering application and cannot be used on Gold3. ZESPRI REPORTED THAT FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF PFTG VINES SHOWED NO NEGATIVE AFFECTS VERSUS UNGIRDLED VINES
WHAT S ON! ZESPRI GLOBAL GAP There has been a significant amount of changes to the Zespri Global Gap audit requirements for this year. Overview of some changes: Checklist order for inspections Visual parts of audit inspections are now separately Inclusion of GRASP Expansion of requirement around water Water testing procedures/decision flowchart Property Spray Plans Splitting out of worker Health and Safety, Worker Welfare and Hygiene requirements. To assist our Apata growers with their audits Apata are having a Global Gap Workshop to review the changes. Date: 20th October 2016 Venue: To be confirmed (Katikati and Te Puke) Time: To be confirmed Turntable Road growers please RSVP to merrilyn.coffey@apata.co.nz or 07 552 0911 Mends Lane growers please RSVP to matapa.scudder@apata.co.nz or 07 533 6212 YOUR TEAM GROWER SERVICES APATA GROW ORCHARD CONTACT SERVICES AND TECHNICAL DETAILS NEALE CAMERON Grower Services Manager 027 582 6364 TODD HARDIE BOP & Regions 027 453 6423 JON MERRICK Organic Category Manager 027 558 6241 DAVID EGLINGTON Te Puke 027 702 5710 DR. SONIA WHITEMAN General Manager Apata Grow 027 659 4453 MIKE WOODERSON Orchard Manager 027 482 0439 LUIS BERGER Orchard Manager 027 444 4673 CRAIG WARD Technical Services Advisor 027 519 2061 ERIN ATKINSON Analytical & Technical Support 027 801 4014 APATA KATIKATI 9 Turntable Hill Road RD 4, Katikati 3181 Phone 07 522 0911 Fax 07 552 0666 APATA TE PUKE 15 Mends Lane RD 6, Te Puke 3186 Phone 07 533 6212 Fax 07 533 1354