Early-season training days and workshops drew a record number of attendees, as findings from NZAPI's Smart and Sustainable project were delivered with practical application for season ahead.
Orchard Skill Up field days and workshops ran throughout the country with sessions adapted for each region and focused on pest and disease management and spraying best practises.
In Gisborne, growers met with scientists to discuss region-specific pest challenges. This included a session on mealybug, led by Vaughn Bell from the Bioeconomy Science Institute, which discussed current methods and recommendations for effective management such as spray timing and application techniques. Jason Smith from Horteye provided updates on Apple leaf curling midge (ALCM) research, focusing on relevant management strategies for Gisborne.
David Manktelow from Applied Research Technologies presented across country on the latest Smart and Sustainable spraying research, discussing spray rates, volumes, chemical deposition for different canopies, and how sprayer equipment performs in terms of deposition.
Hawke’s Bay hosted a record number of orchard staff, with more than 280 turning out to sharpen their skills for the season ahead. This field day was targeted specifically for sprayer operators and provided practical tips and tricks to ensure spray days are effective and efficient. These included:
- Fill point efficiency tank mixing tips.
- What goes wrong when spraying and how to avoid it
- Walking through the spraying day – how to get the most out of a day
- Introduction of pests and diseases that are sprayed for
An excellent turn out of growers from across the Tasman district focused on maximising sprayer performance, including air and spray volume, and aligning output with tree canopy requirements, while workshops in Canterbury and Central Otago saw growers receive targeted support. In total, more than 410 people attended these events.
Smart & Sustainable would like to thank everyone involved in these days, from the excellent orchard hosts and scientists to the team of presenters including AgFirst, Farmlands, T&G, FruitFed, Horticentre, AJB Solutions, and Sprayer Testing NZ.
Members can access resources that were shared during the events through the NZAPI Members' Portal.
