Hawkes Bay Focus Orchard Raises Awareness of Sustainable Management
Since its inception in September 1997 the Hawkes Bay Focus Orchard Project has proved to be a highly successful model for introducing sustainable management practices to the area. Local AgFirst consultant Ross Wilson, who was extensively involved in setting up the project, reports on achievements to date.
The Hawkes Bay Focus Orchard Project was set up as a result of consultation with local growers, researchers and government agencies. The key objective was “to promote sustainable fruitgrowing practices throughout New Zealand”. MAF Policy staff were instrumental in getting the show on the road and MAF Policy Facilitation funds were used to initiate the project. Further funding was obtained through The Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Hawkes Bay Regional Council, ENZA and the Fruitgrowers’ Federation.
A community group of fruitgrowers and supporting agencies was established to develop and run the programme. The group aimed to debate, research and extend sustainable practices environmentally, economically and socially.
The community group selected Ru and Chan Collin’s pipfruit orchard in Hastings as the Focus Orchard. Ru and Chan gave the project their full support and a large part of the project’s success is due to their enthusiastic involvement and commitment.
Main Results and Successes
Within the overall objective, the Focus Orchard aimed to achieve:
- widespread adoption of the Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) programme;
- more efficient usage of pesticides, combined with reduced off-target spray drift;
- efficient usage of the water resource;
- enhanced soil quality;
- better profitability; and
- good employer/employee relationships.
Where important information was missing, the project employed the services of the two research institutes, Hort- Research and Crop and Food Research. Local consultants AgFirst and Agriculture NZ were also employed to facilitate the programme and monitor key pieces of information.
During the last three years, seven field days have been run, each attracting in excess of 400 people. The field days illustrate the real value of the project, as attendance figures never dropped throughout the programme and fruitgrowers from other parts of New Zealand also participated. A website – www.hortnet.co.nz – continues to be used to transfer information.
There have been numerous successful outcomes but a few specific successes throughout the project include:
- identification of irrigation trigger points with software developed for use by all orchardists;
- reduced pesticide application through the introduction of Tree Row Volume (TRV) and low volume concentrate technology;
- reduced off-target spray drift through an intimate knowledge of conditions conducive to drift , avoidance of those conditions and better spray droplet control;
- good knowledge of soil health performance indicators and early indications of practices leading to improved soil health;
- better block redevelopment decisions through accurate gross margin analysis;
- widespread adoption of IFP across the whole Focus Orchard property and industry as a whole; and
- improved tree productivity through improved pruning, thinning and other general husbandry.
Conclusion
The Focus Orchard has been a successful model for introducing sustainable orchard management practices to the area. It has provided growers with information and allowed them to participate in identifying and analysing the alternative practices available to assist them in managing their orchards sustainably.
The project has now secured ongoing funding from the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund for an expanded programme, which will include three Focus Orchards. These will provide an excellent opportunity for comparing and contrasting different properties as well as the outcomes from the first programme.
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Ross Wilson Director/Consultant AgFirst Consultants Hawkes Bay Ltd Hastings Ross has been a horticultural consultant since 1989, with MAF from 1989 to 1995 and since then as a director/consultant with his own company, AgFirst Consultants Hawkes Bay Ltd. Ross completed a B HortSc (hons) in 1983 from Massey University. Consultancy services include facilitating the Hawkes Bay Focus Orchard Project, co-ordinating and compiling farm monitoring for horticulture, loss adjustment for pipfruit and kiwifruit crop insurance, orchard supervision and orchard consultancy for individual growers. |
Contact for Enquiries
Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
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