Dr Kathleen Kozyniak
Principal Scientist Air
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
After a sodden June, it was nice to have reasonably settled weather in July. The region’s rainfall hit 82% of the July average, which meant it edged into what’s considered the normal range. i.e. between 80 and 120% of the month’s average rainfall. But it wasn’t divvied up fairly. Rainfall was well below normal on the Ruataniwha Plains, just 58% of average July rainfall, followed by the south coast on 66% and the Heretaunga Plains on 70%. Areas north of Napier did quite a bit better, particularly Tangoio. One consolation for Central Hawke’s Bay is that the headwaters of the area’s rivers benefited from near average rainfall in the Ruahine Ranges.
A run of drier weather towards the end of July didn’t see soil moisture drop greatly. Levels around the region appeared to be at or near we would expect them to be two-thirds of the way through winter. Soil temperatures ended July near 10°C in lowland areas and about 6°C in the ranges. That’s a smidgen above average. Air temperatures through July were very close to average, both the daytime maximum and night time minimum. A fairly typical July all up.
A number of different organisations have models producing three month seasonal outlooks and it helps when they align and tell a consistent story. Not so for August to October unfortunately. Some have higher than normal sea level pressure over northern New Zealand and others to the south of the country. For the most part they suggest near normal rainfall and near or above average temperatures for the period. Easterly winds may come to the fore in September and October and that onshore direction raises the chance of getting some wet weather. Easterlies are characteristic of La Niña events and it remains a roughly 50:50 chance that we’ll get a weak La Niña for the spring and summer.
July 2020 Rain Map
Speed Limits Review 2020
Hastings District Council is currently reviewing speed limits, either in their entirety or on sections of 70 roads in our district.
The review is being undertaken after Council reviewed numerous requests from the public to consider further amendments across other routes during previous reviews in 2018 and 2019. As well as these public requests, Council is also reviewing roads identified by the New Zealand Transport Agency where speed reductions could make a big difference in preventing deaths and serious injuries. The review also seeks to align Hastings with neighbouring councils’ speed limit change proposals, and account for road and land usage changes due to development.
Under National guidelines, new limits will be either 60, 80 or 100kph.
Information on the proposed changes can be found at My Voice, My Choice .
Submissions close 12.00pm, Tuesday 14th September 2020. The Association will be making a submission so please email any feedback, comments or thoughts on the changes to executiveofficer@hbfa.co.nz
Industry Awards & Graduation Ceremony 2021
We are currently calling for nominations for the Joe Bell Trophy for Services to the Industry and the Fourneau Award for Innovation. Presented at the Industry Awards Night in January, the awards acknowledges individuals, who at a regional level, have made outstanding contributions to the industry and innovation.
Please email executiveofficer@hbfa.co.nz for more information on the awards and nomination forms.
As businesses settle into winter pruning regimes, it has been a time to draw breath and assess the impact of the pandemic and a successful harvest for the industry. MPI have just released the June Economic Recovery Update, identifying performance of the primary sectors during Covid-19.
Overall, primary industries have fared better than other parts of the New Zealand economy during lock-down. Collaboration is what our industry does well. With guidance from MPI, all essential horticulture businesses continued operating without a single outbreak of Covid-19.
Horticulture exports have performed exceptionally well considering the unique global circumstances, with the kiwifruit and apple harvest contributing significantly to increased export volumes. Consumer demand has held up well through the early period of trade disruption.
Social distancing created a new way of operating for businesses. Pack houses ran at 50 to 80 percent capacity during the Level 4 restrictions with obvious flow-on effects to logistics and packing.
Covid-19 also highlighted a number of dependencies and risks across the primary sector supply chain. But, as we enter a period of difficult global economic conditions, it will be the primary sector that will help drive New Zealand’s economic recovery.
Closer to home, the government is getting on-board with support for skilled labour we need to harvest, pack and process next seasons crop. Government has confirmed there will be no reduction in RSE numbers from this season, however, the devil will be in the detail. The allocation of numbers between regions and the ability to retain experienced RSE teams will be important.
MPI is set to launch a major advertising campaign to attract people into agriculture and horticulture careers. The campaign will see advertisements run on radio and online in the coming weeks.
Outdoor burning is again hitting the headlines in light that councillors may try to evoke a total fire ban. As an industry we are all responsible to make sure we take the appropriate steps when it comes to burning dry orchard waste. And although our industry does not represent all rural land-owners, collectively we must all unite and work with council to develop an acceptable plan for controlled burning.
Our Executive Committee continues to work hard behind the scenes as advocates for our industry and for the region. Again, I thank them for their on-going support and commitment to the industry.
John Wilton
With the market coming under pressure and the need to improve fruit colour and quality, there is increased interest in grafting as a rapid and capital efficient way to change varieties.
Recently we have seen some very successful conversions of older, more widely spaced trees, to more modern intensive systems by converting single leader semi-intensive trees to multileader “V” systems. These systems rely on grafts being done low in the trunk, usually around 25 to 30cm above ground, which means it is not practical to retain a sap drawer while the grafts become established.
Experience shows it is possible to graft successfully without sap drawers, provided the tree is still dormant, or at least the job is completed before green tip occurs.
Apart from the two to three-week window immediately prior to green tip when it’s possible to lift the bark, cleft type rather than rind grafts must be used for dormant grafting.
With cleft grafts the stump is split so the scion can be inserted into the stump. The graft needs careful positioning in relation to the cambium layer, i.e. the margin between bark and wood, to obtain good contact between their respective cambium layers.
Going from single leader to multileader systems results in rapid return to production, with much calmer, more easily managed canopies too.
These modern multileader canopies, however, need very good support trellis for the new grafts and to enable significant early crops to be carried.
Support structures are expensive, but necessary for success.
When it comes to grafting, health of the orchard is very important.
Field experience indicates that some varieties take grafts better than others.
Silverleaf has been shown to be the major disease problem with grafting. Care must be taken to protect wounds at all stages to minimise its entry during the grafting process.
Silverleaf is endemic in some older orchards of certain varieties so grafting them is considered high risk. Generally, older Royal Gala types do not graft well due to silverleaf. Avoid these blocks.
Virus infection can also be a problem with certain Scion varieties which express virus symptoms e.g. Scired, which is very susceptible to rubbery wood or Royal Gala types, and Fuji that are sensitive to apple mosaic.
Most trees planted over the last 25 to 30 years are likely to be virus free unless contaminated by use of infected scion wood sometime in the past.
It’s time to begin grafting now.
KVH would like to introduce Gaz Ingram in his new role as KVH Regional Coordinator for the Hawke’s Bay region.
Gaz joins the Hawke’s Bay KVH regional committee and will provide a valuable liaison between the regional group and KVH. He will be keeping growers well connected with updates about onshore and offshore pest and disease threats for the industry, and be a biosecurity champion for the local region. Gaz will also be a welcome pair of hands to assist KVH in following up enquiries relating to Psa and/or other unusual symptoms identified by growers in the region.
Gaz has been involved in the horticulture industry since 1996 (growing conventional and organic apples in the Hawke’s Bay) and many will already know him through his role at Farmlands as horticultural organic and biological manager. Over the last eight years Gaz has worked with organic and biological/regenerative growers across multiple crop types and growing systems. His strong connection to the horticulture industry includes previous positions within
industry groups such as the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association, Soil and Health and current Director position at BioGro NZ, the nation’s leading organic certification business.
Supporting growers is a key focus for KVH and we encourage you to work with our Regional Coordinators who are available as part of the support network for those seeking technical advice, pastoral support, or general information about biosecurity preparedness. Contact Gaz via mobile on 027 511 8097 or email gareth.ingram@farmlands.co.nz.
KVH would also like to thank Campbell Tacon for his efforts in the role of Regional Coordinator over the past two years. Cam will continue to be an active member of the Hawke’s Bay group.
Protect
TANK Plan Proposed Plan Change 9
Plan Change 9 is specific to the Tutaekuri, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamu catchments. This Plan includes rules that affect how land will be used and will establish limits for the taking (abstraction) of water.
Quantity of water abstraction is highlighted in this proposed plan change due to the ground water currently being over-allocated. Controls that are proposed include:
HortNZ Consultant, Charlotte Drury will be holding further grower meeting next week- please check our event calendar HBFA Event Calendar
We urge growers to attend so they are well informed and to raise examples of potential implications of teh plan change. Please forward any examples to HortNZ by 31 July. Submissions close 14th August.
Foster
Training within our industry is back in full swing now that we are in Level 1 post Covid-19 lockdown. Numbers of trainees look good and are expected to grow for the remaining of this year and into 2021 and beyond. Government are pouring a significant amount of funds into the primary sector, allowing fees free programs to help with the training and re-training individuals into our industry. This is a great thing for Hawke’s Bay and we all really need to embrace this opportunity going forward.
Education
Primary ITO
The Government’s new Free Trades Training package will pay the fees of all Primary Industry Training Organisation (ITO) apprenticeships and training.
Additionally, the Government has announced an Apprenticeship Boost, which promises to pay employers up to $16,000 to either employ or retain apprentices across two years. The Free Trades Training is open from now until the end of 2022.
As an employer, you can take advantage of Free Trades Training and also access money from Work and Income for the Apprenticeship Boost. That will pay employers $1000 a month for first-year apprentices and $500 a month for apprentices for most of their second year.
For information, please contact the Regional Delivery Manager for Horticulture, Jason Smyth Jason.smyth@primaryito.ac.nz or o6 855 9004.
Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)
Winter has bitten and is affecting some of our outdoor activities. Some of the fruit support structures classes have had to be postponed. Please bear with us and be flexible in terms of catch up classes and on job sign-off.
Once again the government have recognized the importance of the horticulture industry to the overall economy, so all the programmes mentioned below will be fees free. In addition, there is an incentive called “apprentice boost” which encourage employers to train apprentices to a Level 4 standard. The details of how to apply are sketchy but we do know that it will be managed by WINZ. The requirements are:
Year 1 trainees have completed the theory of post and wire for fruit support structures, but the weather interfered with the two-day practical session.
Year 2 trainees have yet to hand in their pruning assessments and the soil properties assessment is due in on the 16th of July. Students also have an “on job” task with some form of soil modification. Please allow them to work with modifications such as fertilising, liming, composting, grading rows etc.
Year 3 trainees have pruning assessments due on the 16th of July. Students are gaining an understanding of different training systems that can be used. Part of this assessment is an interview with their manager. If managers can be available for this task as it is important for the students to understand what you are trying to achieve and what changes you are planning to make. Thanks to those managers involved!
Diploma. The research topic course in this programme is throwing up some really interesting results. I am looking forward to the students presenting their findings and adding to our (and their) body of knowledge.
For further information, please contact EIT Tutor Gordon Reid on greid@eit.ac.nz or 06 8301851.
Promote
Whilst planning is well underway for events in 2020/21, HBFA’s AGM is fast approaching. To be held on the 17th September, more details will follow in the August newsletter.
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page and events calendar for up and coming events. If you have an industry event your business would like us to promote (and you are a member!), please forward details to marketing@hbfa.co.nz and we’ll get it in front of the hort community for you!
And if you have not already done so, please subscribe to our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages, as we regularly send information through these social media channels – if you like what you see, give us the thumbs up and share with your colleagues!
John Wilton
AgFirst, Hawkes Bay
Signals are that orchard labour may become a problem next season. We need to make trees more worker friendly. This means bringing a larger proportion of the marketable crop closer to the ground. Aim to reach about 60% of the marketable crop from the ground. This means improving light levels within the lower tree.
Focus your pruning effort on eliminating large, shading upper tree branches to allow more light past them into the lower canopy. Above the 2.5m level, there needs to be “in row” gaps between the trees to enable light to reach the lower canopy.
In most trees planted intensively, upper tree structure needs little more than spurs and weak fruiting laterals with good terminal fruiting buds.
In the lower tree, stronger branches producing excessive annual shoot growth may also need removal.
At individual branch level, fruiting wood should be confined to a single layer horizontal plane to avoid within branch shading. This means removal of any uprights, overlapping laterals and anything underneath the branches.
Where lower branches have been cut back hard to allow machinery access, remove this too as the severe heading cuts will stimulate excessive annual shoot growth.
Once the high growth, unwanted branches have been removed, the remaining calmer branches should be left more or less unpruned except for the removal of any vertical shoots.
Often where tree canopies are too dense, removal of problem branches has been too timid. Providing detailed pruning is minimised, its possible to remove a quarter, to a third of the branches without stimulating excessive tree vigour.
In the lower canopy, its often difficult to stimulate good replacement lateral growth from the leader. This problem can be overcome by leaving a two or three bud stud where branches are being removed, rather than flush cutting.
Where leader topping is required to lower tree height, this is best left until after fruit set, say mid-November, to minimise the vigour response from these cuts.
In situations where vigour is really excessive, pruning and crop load alone will not solve the vigour problems. Other vigour control methods need to be considered such as late dormant root pruning, trunk girdling or growth regulators.
Submissions for the TANK Plan Change have been extended to Friday 14 August 2020.
A series of zoom meetings will be held in the two weeks, each meeting focusing on a different part of the TANK Plan. These meetings will be an opportunity for Regional Council staff to present what the TANK Plan says about each topic and to answer your questions.
There will be four sessions:
Please note that all sessions will be recorded and may be shared with anyone who is unable to attend the meeting. Please head to our website to read the TANK Plan and start making your submission using our online form.
We would appreciate you sending any questions about the TANK Plan in advance to make sure that our presentation content is relevant to you and your members. Please send your questions to eTANK@hbrc.govt.nz.
A grower meeting will also be held at the Twyford School Hall, 7pm on Monday 22 June 2020. It is an opportunity for growers to ask questions and provide feedback about the proposed plan, and provide a forum for discussion, so that we can ensure that HortNZ’s submission reflects the views of growers as best we can.
For more information about the plan change is available on the regional council website.
An industry group has been established to research and better understand the carbon footprinting of outdoor burning practices- mulching, pulling and burning, in order to develop a best practice guide for the regions horticulture industry.
During May to August, specific restrictions apply to burning of orchard/vineyard materials for redevelopment purposes.
HBFA, NZAPI and grower representatives meet last week to discuss how the varying orchard development disposal options are impacting the environment. It includes researching the extent to which natural processes such as root system carbon dioxide uptake, leaf trash decay and tree removal impacts the overall carbon footprint. One option to be explored is extrapolating the gases produced by burning a fire at different moisture levels to determine if it meets the acceptable ‘burn’ thresholds as governed by HBRC. Monitoring trials will also be undertaken with bark mulch through to the final ‘resting place’, ensuring all viable steps are taken to protect Papatuanuku (Mother Earth).
For more information on outdoor burning, please refer to the good practice guide.
Horticulture New Zealand Inc (HortNZ) is the national organisation representing New Zealand’s 5,000 commercial fruit, vegetable and berry fruit growers. The organisation works on industry wide issues for industry good to support and encourage industry growth.
The Board is looking to appoint a director to complement the skills, experience and knowledge of the grower directors elected by members.
Candidates will have strong governance and leadership experience. They must have a genuine interest in, and knowledge of, the breadth of issues affecting horticulture.
Candidates will also be familiar with the current political/advocacy process and possess strong business management skills. Excellent communication skills and established networks will also be an advantage.
Appointed directors serve on the board for up to three years and are expected to commit a minimum of 15-20 days each year to meetings and other board duties, plus preparation time.
A full job description is available at the link below. A CV and covering letter should be sent to Board Secretary, Kerry Norman at Kerry.Norman@hortnz.co.nz.
Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday, 1 July 2020.
