24 October 2001
Pipfruit and winegrape growers training scheme funded by Government grant
A new training programme which will help pipfruit and winegrape growers use and interpret scientific data is being developed with the help of a $106,904 grant from the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund.
The Fund was set up to help agricultural and forestry communities improve environmental and economic outcomes.
This project, run by New Zealand Pipfruit Limited and the Hawkes Bay Grape Growers Association, will develop a training programme on the use and interpretation of monitored and forecast environmental data in pipfruit and winegrape production.
Sustainable Farming Fund Manager, Kevin Steel says investment in grower training could have significant cost benefits.
"For instance the annual cost of avoidable apple black spot losses is estimated to be in excess of $6-million. Losses of grapes and wine quality to botrytis and powdery mildew are key problems facing the wine industry which could, in many cases, be reduced by the proposed upskilling of growers."
The programme will be based around the successful Australian winegrape "Research to Practise" model.
Originally designed to provide training in pest and disease management to grape growers, the Australian model was developed after it became clear that a large amount of information developed by scientists was not adopted because it was conveyed in a form that users encouraged grower understanding and application.
Kevin Steel says the programme will address the management uses of environmental data, weather monitoring systems, data access and data interpretation.
He says some of the specific areas being addressed include disease and pest-risk prediction and management responses, irrigation scheduling and management, pesticide application scheduling including spray drift avoidance and frost and sunburn prediction and management.
"Improved adoption of these responses will increase the ability of the industry to produce quality product and increase economic sustainability as well as achieving significant reductions in the use of agrichemicals.
Ends
For more information contact Kevin Steel, Sustainable Farming Fund, Tel. 460 8780 Mike Butcher, NZ Pipfruit Limited, Tel. 06-877-3263.
Contact for Enquiries
Fund Administrator
Sustainable Farming Fund
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
Tel: 0800 008 333
Fax: 04 894 0746
Contact this person
