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Keeping vigilant of pests to protect the industry
Everyone, including growers, staff and public, have an important part to play in protecting New Zealand’s horticulture industry from unwanted pests and diseases.
Last week a single Fall Armyworm egg mass was found in Tauranga. Early detection of invasive pests like Fall Armyworm is crucial to limiting the impact on fruit and vegetable crops.
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Growers should stay vigilant and become familiar with what to look for – click here for a fact sheet.
If you see anything unusual, call MPI’s biosecurity hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or use the online reporting portal: report.mpi.govt.nz/pest/
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Reporting the unusual
If you see a suspected exotic pest or disease, or anything unusual, call the MPI exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 to report it. Detecting new incursions early increases the chance of eradication. Click here for MPI reporting information.
Find A Pest
The Find A Pest App is free to use to identify pests. You can use the app to take photos of pests or diseases to be identified by experts. Click here to go to Find A Pest.
Create a Biosecurity Plan
There are many steps that growers can take to improve biosecurity in their day-to-day operations. Click here to find out how to create a plan.
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TPP putting tamarillo growers under stress
Hot, dry summers and mild winters are putting extra pressure on the country’s tamarillo growers as Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) populations thrive.
Read the article
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Asha’s career - insects won out over birds
Asha Chhagan was so intrigued by biology that when it came to deciding what to specialise in for her master’s, she couldn’t decide between birds or insects.
Read the article
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HortNZ Board nominations due 8 April
Nominations are open for two grower elected positions on the HortNZ board. Individual growers, affiliated product groups, and affiliated grower associations can put forward nominations for these two vacancies.
Nominations close at 5pm, Friday 8 April. Click here to download the nomination form. Candidates must be nominated by at least two grower members or affiliated organisations to be considered. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of positions to be filled an election will be called.
This year, two grower elected HortNZ directors will retire by rotation. Barry O’Neil and Kathryn de Bruin are offering themselves for re-election.
If you have any questions, please email Kerry Norman, at kerry.norman@hortnz.co.nz.
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Waikato District Plan decision – webinar for growers this Monday, 11 April
HortNZ is hosting a webinar for growers to go cover what’s happening with the proposed Waikato District Plan. The webinar is this coming Monday and will cover what key changes/provisions in the decision will affect growers.
When: Monday 11 April, 12.00pm - 12.30pm
Click here to register
The Waikato District Council notified its decision on Plan in January 2022 and is now subject to appeal. Click here to read a summary of the Proposed Waikato District Plan decision and appeals.
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High hopes for a Kiwi classic
Though facing challenges from pests and disease, there are hopes that NZ's much-loved feijoas will become a big part of the food processing sector.
Read the article
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Super growth for Supie
Online supermarket, Supie, has gone from strength to strength in the nine months since it was launched, and has even bigger plans for the future.
Read the article
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Enter the 2022 Young Grower competition!
Several regional competitions of the Young Grower of the Year are fast approaching. The competition is an amazing opportunity for young people working in the fruit and vegetable industries to test their knowledge and skills, grow professional connections and gain exposure in the industry.
If you or someone you know wants to get involved, see the below for information about some upcoming regional competitions, or visit YoungGrower.co.nz for more info.
Pukekohe Young Grower – 20 May
Click here to download the entry form. Email completed entry forms to pukekoheyounggrower@gmail.com by 4pm, Monday 18 April.
Event and awards dinner: Friday 20 May. More info about the event to come soon.
Hawkes Bay Young Fruit Grower – 26-27 May
Click here for entry info. Entries close 5pm, Friday 22 April.
The competition, run by HBFA, will be held on 26 May at the Tomoana Showgrounds.
The Awards Dinner will be held on 27 May at Toitoi Arts and Events Centre, Hastings.
For all dinner queries please email yfoty@hbfa.co.nz.
Central Otago Young Grower – 10 June
Click here to download the entry form. 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
National final, Nelson – 21-22 September
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Ag emissions pricing consultation ends
Industry consultation on agricultural emissions pricing has finished. Many thanks to all who attended webinars and completed the survey. This information has been passed on to the He Waka Eke Noa team who are working on a recommendations report to the Ministers.
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Enter the 2022 Primary Industries awards
Entries are open for the annual Primary Industries Summit & Awards. There are eight categories that are open to individuals, teams and companies from New Zealand’s primary sector.
Entries are due this Tuesday 12 April with the finalists announced on 25 May.
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Horticulture Lecturer role at Lincoln
Lincoln University is recruiting a Lecturer-Senior Lecturer in Horticultural Systems Management. This teaching role will help deliver the education of students studying Lincoln's horticultural qualifications.
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PickNZ: seasonal vacancy job board
The PickNZ job board is a free site for employers to list seasonal roles such as harvest, packhouse or thinning work.
PickNZ is the go-to site for listing seasonal horticultural roles, and is being backed by industry and government to help fill seasonal vacancies.
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