We’ve almost made it to the end of the year! I’ve heard from many that this has been one of the most trying years in recent memory. So much so, that many of the significant events seem to blur into each other. Harvest this year started with the insecurity of COVID-19 impacting upon the availability of labour, as well as meeting export protocols. Fruit quality quickly became a central issue across the whole supply chain resulting in a significant dip in Grower profitability. NZKGI Executive members Mark Mayston and Sally Gardiner have provided a podcast in this newsletter which cover their experiences of a recent trip to Europe to investigate the quality of our kiwifruit in market (here).
The year ended with rough weather, hitting orchards with frost as well as warmer conditions creating a highly variable bud break and setting us up with a significantly reduced forecast volume of 144 million trays for next year, down from the around 200 million trays forecast in the Zespri 5-year Outlook.
Next year is going to be another big one for Growers. In addition to Zespri share alignment, a longer-term quality solution and the enduring funding margin to re-negotiate, we have the RSE policy review amongst a plethora of other policy regulation to wade through as well as a national election where we will be outlining our policy position across the various parties.
Most importantly, we have the financial pressure from reduced volumes which will see everyone tightening their belts. There are many Growers doing it tough out there. We will also come to a conclusion on the EPAs decision on the use of Hi-Cane as well as the Gisborne Rates appeal. Make no mistake, NZKGI is advocating hard for Growers in both of these areas.
Make sure you recharge your batteries before the new year begins. We are all going to have to work smartly and collaboratively to get the maximum value out of our smaller volume.
– NZKGI CEO Colin Bond
Seasons Greetings to you All
A few brief RMA updates this month – TANK proceedings, the WCO, RMA changes, Kotahi
TANK proceedings
The regional council is working to understand the willingness of all appellants to participate in mediation. Once they know that, they will propose a timetable to the Court. At best, there could be mediation in the first quarter of 2023, however that is possibly optimistic
WCO
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have appealed the interim recommendation of the Environment Court (which recommends granting an order on the Upper and Lower River). HortNZ has become an interested party to this appeal, as we support HBRC’s position.
Changes to the RMA
HortNZ will be preparing a submission on the National and Built Environments Act, and the Spatial Planning Act. Submissions close on 5 February 2023. If anyone is interested in understanding more on this (perhaps if you are having trouble sleeping!) visit the MfE website: Resource management system reform | Ministry for the Environment
Kotahi
The first meeting of the technical advisory group was on Thursday 15 December. HB Fruitgrowers, HB Vege Growers, Apples and Pears and HortNZ all had representatives at the meeting, as well as other primary sector businesses such as Heinz Watties which is great as it ensures that the horticulture sector is represented by multiple voices at the table. The first meeting was an introduction to the plan and what it is going to cover but it would be fair to say the work programme is ambitious. We will be seeking input from you as growers on subjects that really matter to you, such as possible changes to the outdoor burning rules. More information is available here: The Kotahi Plan | Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (hbrc.govt.nz)
I hope everyone has a safe festive season and has the opportunity to spend some time relaxing with loved ones.
Any questions, please get in touch – Charlotte Drury, charlotte@viewconsult.co.nz 027 3225595. There is a lot going on at the moment so if you think I may be able to help, please do ask.
Thanks,
Charlotte
Kia ora koutou,
All our classes at EIT are now finished and we are trying to support students to get assessment work completed. As always many have several outstanding courses. Next year we are going to be stricter on due dates to get work in earlier in the year, and you will see dates set on the new timetable, to help manage this issue. Managers are receiving a monthly update which has more information regarding fees, timetables, and the like. If you would like to be receiving this newsletter pease email Clare: cbuckner@eit.ac.nz
This Spring has been exceptional in its demands, and many students have deferred courses to next year, to spread their EIT workload. So long as we know what the plan is, we can help.
Students are asked for an evaluation after their courses finish, and I will also be sending out a very short manager survey – please take five minutes to offer us some anonymous feedback – these surveys don’t tick a box in our compliance folder, but offer evidence that we are consulting with industry and back us up to make changes to better suit industry needs, so please use them.
If you have students interested in starting in 2023, please text or call Clare. We start again on 11th January, and I would like to hear from you before Christmas for our new Year one students.
Both the post harvest and fruit production Diploma students of 2022 have engaged with the different courses and feedback has been that they have enjoyed the learning process. We continue to look at options to improve the delivery, and look forward to welcoming new students iin 2023, as well as returning students completing their studies. We start again with Fruit Production on 18th January with Horticulture Business Skills. Anyone interested please contact Chris cthorman@eit.ac.nz .
Wishing you the very best of holiday seasons, and look forward to catching up next year, ngā mihi nunui Clare, Steven, Chris and Ash.
The 2022 late spring conditions have been an improvement on the cloudy / nothing weather of 2021, the sun has been shining, rain is happening and apart from some smaller areas of hail, things are looking much better than the shocking wet start of this spring. Leaf health is much improved, and things are really starting to grow. Harvest is getting closer, hopefully your blocks are set up to make the most of the upcoming season.
Now is the mid-point of the growing season. Crop loads are generally set on trees, all growers should be aware of what fruit numbers are in every block and where this contrasts with the block targets. These actual vs target numbers need to be assessed to understand what they are likely to mean going forward for the fruit and for the canopy, and what the best line of management is to maximise the performance of the block.
Thinning labour does not feel as challenged / panicked as the last couple of years, block fruit numbers are down to target earlier and this is likely to give a corresponding lift in fruit size / yield. This is critical as the world is still getting over the “Covid hangover” with feedback from most suppliers around the world saying that the last couple of years were tough work for everyone. We need to be hitting the fruit size and quality for the markets that give us the best returns.
In turbulent times there often ends up winners and losers. Some people make good decisions (often called luck) that are based on the best information available both in the orchard and in the markets. Others get caught up in the excitement of the moment and either make rash / knee jerk calls or do nothing and expect to get a different outcome. Focus on where the profit is within your orchards and maximise the results.
You should all be proud of being in an industry that is focused on feeding the world and know that it is an industry that will always be needed. We are coming up on Xmas and this is a key time to catch up with friends and family and recharge the batteries.
Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday from the team at AgFirst, thanks for your support and we will see you again in 2023 for another exciting year.
Jonathan Brookes
We know that this has been a difficult season. Apricot crops for main stream varieties are really light, and some cherry blocks have been walked away from as there was insufficient fruit to put pickers in. Plum loads are variable and while peach and nectarine are generally Ok that is not always the situation.
Would having the trees in a covered cropping situation have made a difference, leaving aside the cost of construction of the houses?
This season the weather has given us; normal winter chilling (but a late start to accumulation), hail events, (4 or so that I have heard of), inclement weather during much of pollination (hence the light crop loads), more rain than desired in both volume and events, and low growing degree day accumulation.
While a permanent or removable cover may exasperate the winter chilling effect all the other weather factors would be mitigated. In addition, there would be less disease protection needed and with some stonefruit growers now applying few if any insecticides that situation may not change, or it might. We would need to think more carefully about pollination inside structures, but that work is already underway. Less water might be needed especially during windy periods, and the amount of time to spray trees increases as its calmer for longer.
The recent FOPS field walk, especially the Rockit block in Stock Road, was a fine example of that system done very well. What I appreciated was the measured way in which the trees were grown, so that upon reaching the top wire the vigour was under control with crop load and other techniques as required. Contrast this with the head long rush to fill the canopy approach and the then difficulty of managing the tops. So, whether it’s a FOPS or UFO system or something like the pergola as espoused by Ronald Vermeulen’s intensive pergola (think kiwifruit) canopies under cover has a certain appeal when matched with this type of system.
The cost of a fully covered system might necessitate highly productive new IP varieties, with a good information background and of course dwarfing rootstocks. I have seen enough of Gisela 5 and 12 now to think that they are well worth a try for cherries. Andy McGrath has some new dwarfing stocks at various import and testing stages so this field should progress. If we can take cherry production from the 7-15 t/ha to a regular 20 tonnes and then march up from there, as well as guarantee buyers that the product will arrive then that might be what we call future proofing.
There was a bunch of rootstocks imported a few years ago for the other stonefruit crops and some of these can still be found as trees. Should there be interest and some commitment a revisiting of what’s still possible can be done. Shifting these crops from 20-30 t/ha to 40’s and 50’s under covers to a waiting market seems like a fine goal to ponder over the few days off over Christmas and New Year.
A very quick google search showed two websites, www.tupu.nz and www.eeca.govt.nz that are already talking about covered crops and the benefits, including using less carbon. There might even be some funding available for early adopters.
Thanks for the opportunity to indulge in a wee rant. I trust you will get a day or two to spend with family. I also hope that the rain will ease up shortly, the sun will shine and we can have a Hawkes Bay summer. We have visitors from France and England arriving soon and I will get a lot of stick should the sun not come out very soon.
Merry Christmas
Richard Mills
Summerfruit Technical Advisor
021 632559
The rain keeps coming and the number of our rainfall sites recording their highest annual total is steadily increasing. November totals were double the month’s average in the north of the region but a more modest 33% higher on the Heretaunga Plains. There were thunderstorms aplenty, helped along by temperatures that were firing on all cylinders – overnight temperatures an impressive 2.5°C above average. Soil temperatures were warmer than usual and finished the month on 20°C on the Plains. River flows were generously above average during November and both groundwater and soil moisture levels followed suit.
Thankfully we’ve ditched one of the two protagonists. The negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is no more and has returned to neutral mode. The La Niña should, fingers crossed, follow the same path towards the end of summer. The start of February, when I take my holidays, would be ideal. In the meantime, expect an unchanged pattern of weather, namely higher than normal sea level pressure over southern New Zealand and lower than normal to the north, more easterlies than usual and most likely normal or above normal rainfall and temperatures. Here’s hoping we all have a great Christmas break and a break from the rain.
Percentage of Normal Rainfall
Dr Kathleen Kozyniak
Principal Scientist Air
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
This award recognises innovation in the fruit growing sector, which contributes to improved efficiency, sustainability or safety in the fruit growing community. The trophy itself represents the linkage between “man, fruit and innovation” and was created in memory of Kevin Fourneau and donated to the Association by the Fourneau Family.
This trophy is only awarded when applications meet the criteria:
The winner will be announced at the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association Industry Awards Night on February 2nd 2023.
The deadline for nominations is midday on December 13 2022.
Nomination forms can be obtained by emailing manager@hbfa.co.nz
This year HBFACT and Horticentre Charitable Trust are funding three horticulture scholarship categories – Level 3/4, Diploma and Degree.
These scholarships are provided to encourage individuals domiciled in Hawke’s Bay to undertake further education or training in horticulture subjects relevant to pipfruit, summerfruit and kiwifruit. Studies can be through a University, Polytech or with other NZQA accredited providers. It is hoped that scholarship recipients will ultimately seek employment in Hawke’s Bay and pass on the benefits of their learning to the Hawke’s Bay community.
For more information and to apply, please visit
The Emerging Achiever Award recognises an up-and-coming individual who has positively influenced others in their workplace and has demonstrated qualities and outcomes that has positively impacted the business.
The recipient of this award will have worked in the kiwifruit, pipfruit or summerfruit sector for less than 10 years, whilst living and working in Hawke’s Bay.
The candidate must be nominated by a HBFA member (company, grower or business) and demonstrates a keen ability to positively impact horticulture by influencing others in a positive way.
Nomination Criteria:
The nominee must be working full-time and employed in the kiwifruit, pipfruit or summerfruit sector for less than 10 years
Nominees are eligible to win the award one time only
There is no age limit for nominees
Nominees must live and work in Hawke’s Bay
The recipient will be selected by the HBFA Awards Committee
Nominations must be received by 5pm, 12 December 2022.
The winner of this award will be announced at the HBFA Industry Awards Night on 2nd February 2023
Please email the completed nomination form to manager@hbfa.co.nz
The form can be access by clicking on the following Link: Emerging Achiever Nomination Form 2023
Kia ora koutou,
Our year is drawing to a close, with final classes this month for all years. The first years will be in for a Taster Day to get a picture of what study will look like next year – they have become familiar with a lot of small group practicals but next year, classes are very different, with a bigger theory component, and assessment work that has to be completed away from EIT. Next year we will be asking students to use our Record of Work App to capture evidence of their practical work, and hope that this is a step towards students using more digital tools as they progress at EIT, as well as making some assessment work more achievable.
Level 3 Fruit Production have one more class for Irrigation, and Level 4 have their final Growing Environment class. There are two more tutorials to help students complete their assessments. We need to confirm by 18th November whether students are going to complete everything this year . . . . please discuss this with them and let us know..
L5 fruit production are working through the second labour management assessment which considers the labour resources needed for an orchard season, how to recruit, train and manage. Some level 5 students will be presenting their research project this week. Some great ideas around pruning, shading and harvest quality. They are all feeling the challenge of speaking to group of people.
The Post Harvest students had an informative visit to Compac, hosted by Derek Batchelor. Its great to get out and meet a range of people involved in the packing industry.
Next year there will be fees. Each employer has a different way to manage this. If you are covering these fees, then an Employer Declaration must be completed and returned. These will be sent through to HR and yourselves in the next week. It is important students know what their situation is regarding paying fees, as they need to complete this on their enrolments, so please have this discussion with them.
Wishing you a successful, low stress thinning season.
Noho ora mai, from EIT
