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12 May is the International Day of Plant Health
Growers play valuable roles in keeping plants healthy, which in turn helps to protect the health of people and our planet.
Large scale factors such as climate change, human activities, and increasing global trade and travel interact in complex ways to provide more opportunities for unwanted pests and diseases to spread and thrive. However, all of us can contribute to decreasing the threat of plant pests and diseases to New Zealand.
The website for the International Day of Plant Health has more information about events happening on 12 May and outlines a number of ideas about actions that can be taken to help to protect plant health. Two of HortNZ’s key priorities are assisting growers to adapt to the changing growing environment and supporting them to be prepared to face the challenges of emerging risks.
We would love to hear about actions you are taking to protect plant health on your farm or orchard. If you would like to discuss your plant health activities, or how HortNZ could support you to further protect plant health, contact risk policy advisor, Eve Pleydell.
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HortNZ in the media
RSE scheme 'modern slavery' - claim Hort News
HortNZ chief executive Nadine Tunley told Hort News that there is no tolerance for poor employers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Tunley says RSE employers would be putting their accreditation at risk through non-compliance.
Costs crippling growers Hort News
"Meanwhile, the cost of inputs such as fertiliser, seed and fuel have increased and overall input costs have risen by between 20% and 50%," says Barry O'Neil. "The added problem with these rises is that they have taken place in such a short period of time and this has meant that the value of the products hasn't kept pace with the speed of the rising inputs."
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Pay your HortNZ levy now
HortNZ will be emailing growers direct levy collection information this Thursday 12 May. Payments are now due for fruit and vegetable sales made directly to the public during the year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
The last few years have been very disruptive and we believe that more growers now make direct sales. To ensure that we collect from all growers that now sell directly, we are sending all growers the Direct Levy Declaration form for the most recent collection period (April 2021 – March 2022). Growers will also be sent information about how to complete a levy declaration online.
All growers are required by law to complete a declaration if they have sold fruit or vegetables, in a fresh or processed form, directly to the public during this period (e.g., gate or roadside sales, internet sales, farmers or flea markets, restaurants, or own exports). Click here to read more about the Vegetable and Fruit Commodity Levy.
If you have any queries or wish to update your business contact information, please email levy@hortnz.co.nz.
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Two roles being recruited for A Lighter Touch
HortNZ is recruiting for two roles to support the work of the A Lighter Touch (ALT) programme.
ALT is a game-changing, multi-year partnership programme between government and industry. It will address the challenge of meeting consumer demands for quality food produced under sustainable pest management programmes that are gentle on the environment.
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Programme Manager
The Programme Manager will have responsibility for the development and delivery of a programme management framework, ensuring the work programme for ‘A Lighter Touch’ delivers positive outcomes for programme participants and stakeholders.
Click here for more info and to apply.
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Administration Assistant
The Administration Assistant will be responsible for working closely with the team to coordinate logistics, workstreams and team members, ensuring the team is running efficiently and effectively whilst delivering positive outcomes for the programme and its stakeholders.
Click here for more info and to apply.
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Horticulture Industry Awards
HortNZ is calling for nominations for its 2022 Horticulture Industry Awards. There are three awards:
- Bledisloe Cup – awarded for outstanding and meritorious contribution to the New Zealand horticulture industry
- President's Trophy – awarded for inspiring leadership within the horticulture industry
- Environmental Award – for a person or organisation focussed on a sustainable environment project.
A full description and criteria for the above awards can be found on the HortNZ website. Nominations close at 5pm on Tuesday 7 June 2022.
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Pukekohe Young Grower event next Friday
Five contestants will compete for the title of the 2022 Pukekohe Young Grower of the Year next week: Marcus Bruce, Sarah Dobson, Molly Green and Chris Lowe.
The Pukekohe competition will be held next Friday, 20 May, at the PIA Event Centre, Pukekohe. All are welcome to come along and watch the activities, which will take place between 9am and 3pm. The awards dinner will start at 6pm. If you wish to attend the dinner, please email pukekoheyounggrower@gmail.com for tickets.
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Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower finalists announced
This year’s finalists for the Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower competition are:
Maatu Akonga (T&G Global), Ben Jarvis (Mr Apple), Alix Te Kere (Rockit), Dharam Singh (Thornhill Horticulture), Nga Stanley (Craigmore Sustainables), William Horsefield (Rockit Management Services), Junior Vaai (Craigmore Sustainables) and Jan Buter (T & G Global).
The Hawke’s Bay competition will be held on Thursday 26 May at the Tomoana Showgrounds. All are welcome to come along and watch the activities, which will take place between 9am and 3pm.
There are limited tickets left for the awards dinner on Friday 27 May at Toitoi Arts and Events Centre. You can book tickets via the HBFA website here. |
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Entries open for Central Otago Young Grower
Click here to download the entry form. Please email completed entry forms to Mariette.Morkel@horticentre.co.nz by 4pm, Wednesday 1 June.
The competition will be held at the Central Otago Campus, Horticulture Training Facility in Cromwell. The awards dinner will be at The Moorings, Cromwell.
Later competition dates:
Nelson – 8 July
Gisborne – 14 July
Bay of Plenty – 20 July
The National Young Grower of the Year final will take place in Nelson, 21 – 22 September 2022.
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A selection of articles from The Orchardist and NZGrower magazines. Click here to subscribe.
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Citrus project aims to lighten spraying impact
Helping citrus growers increase their stock of beneficial insects, therefore decreasing the need to spray, is the focus of one of a range of projects that aim to help achieve a ‘lighter touch.’
Read the article
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Gisborne growers hit by trio of massive rain events
It rained, it rained again, and then it rained some more. Gisborne growers are counting the cost of one weather bomb after another.
Read the article
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New strategy for NZGAP’s future
NZGAP has finalised its new strategy for 2022-2027, which has been approved by the NZGAP committee after an extensive review process over the past year. The new vision is: “To enable the production and supply of safe and sustainable food” while NZGAP’s revised purpose is: “Providing simplified, cost-effective, and integrated assurance in New Zealand horticulture that is trusted and valued”.
NZGAP will continue to provide growers with the best pathway to meet their compliance obligations, while also moving beyond compliance on a continuous improvement journey. The organisation continues to work towards aligning grower practices with regulatory and market requirements. The revised strategy will be formally launched at the NZGAP Annual Meeting in August, along with the supporting workplan which delivers on NZGAP’s strategic objectives.
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NTWG interpreting and seeking recognition of GLOBALG.A.P. v6
Two weeks ago, GLOBALG.A.P. announced a new version for the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard. Version 6 of the GLOBALG.A.P. assurance framework was launched and an updated GRASP standard version 2. Click here to read the announcement, and click here to read a summary of changes.
GLOBALG.A.P. offers two different IFA checklists for fruit and vegetables. One that incorporates the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) benchmarked requirements, click here for a checklist. Another is called SMART IFA standard without the GFSI requirements, click here for a checklist. The checklist a grower chooses will depend on what market/s the produce goes to. A brief summary of the two options is provided in the links above. If you are not sure, contact your Exporter or GLOBALG.A.P. certification provider.
The New Zealand GLOBALG.A.P. National Technical Working Group (NTWG) is interpreting the changes to the IFA standard to provide local growers clarity about how to implement the changes. The group is also working on grower support material and, where possible, integration of national regulation where there is direct overlap with v6. The transition from IFA v5 to v6 is likely to take a year before all GLOBALG.A.P. growers must be using the new standard, but more information will be provided later this year.
NTWG is also collaborating with horticulture industry bodies to seek recognition of the new standard as meeting local farm planning regulations. The group has previously achieved success in getting recognition of Food Control Plans under the Food Act 2014.
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Modern slavery and worker exploitation - submission and webinar
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback on a legislative response to modern slavery and worker exploitation. Click here to read more.
HortNZ will be developing a submission on behalf of all growers. The draft submission will be sent to affiliated groups for comment in late May.
Webinar
When: 9.30am-10.30am, Monday 30 May
HortNZ will host a Zoom meeting to discuss the proposal, our draft submission and to seek feedback.
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National climate change adaptation plan consultation
The Government is consulting on the draft national climate change adaptation plan. Submissions close on 3 June. The draft plan sets out actions to support all sectors and communities to adapt to climate change. Information on the plan can be found on the MfE website.
HortNZ will develop a submission on behalf of all growers. We will share the draft submission to industry groups for feedback on Friday 20 May. If you are interested in this topic or intend to write a submission, please email Michelle Sands.
Webinar
When: 10.00am-11.00am, Tuesday 31 May
HortNZ will also hold a Zoom meeting to discuss the proposal and our draft submission.
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A Lighter Touch webinars set to start
A Lighter Touch (ALT), the pan-industry project to reduce agrichemical use, is running a series of webinars about enhancing agroecosystems. Dr Charles Merfield (“Merf”), head of the BHU Future Farming Centre at Lincoln University, will be presenting the concepts of agroecology with examples of crop protection and the different forms of biological control with a focus on conservation biocontrol.
The three 45 minute webinars will cover:
- Tuesday 17 May 11am – Introduction and explainer of agroecology
- Tuesday 14 June 11am – Introduction and explainer of biocontrol
- Wednesday 13 July 11am – How ALT have applied this agroecosystem enhancement and biocontrol theory in the Gisborne citrus project.
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New food recall guidance and tools
New Zealand Food Safety has updated its food recall guidance to make it faster and easier for businesses to prepare for and conduct food recalls. There are new resources available online to clarify the process and decisions businesses need to make.
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PMAC executive officer role vacancy
The Plant Market Access Council (PMAC) is recruiting for a new executive officer. PMAC helps support exports and enduring market access for New Zealand’s plant product exports. The incorporated society provides advice and input to the use of funds and cost recovered from industry, to fund activity that supports plant exports and international access. Applications for the role close on Thursday 19 May.
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