Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
23/09/2024
Exotic fruit flies and the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) are considered two of the biggest biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry and from now they are both in their highest-risk period for entry into New Zealand. A quick reminder of the damage these unwanted pests can do and what to look out for: Fruit flies: High likelihood of entry – have crossed our borders many times. Production impacts for a range of horticultural crops but considered low for kiwifruit. Severe market access restrictions, particularly for Queensland Fruit Fly which is not present in most major kiwifruit markets. Highly effective surveillance system with around 8000 traps nationwide. BMSB: Pierces kiwifruit resulting in fruit drop and rot. Fruit loss is typically 5-10% but up to 30% on worst blocks. Extremely difficult to eradicate – early detection is essential. Major nuisance pest overwintering inside homes in huge numbers. High likelihood of entry as a hitchhiker on shipping containers, cars, machinery, and luggage. National surveillance system and kiwifruit industry surveillance system, but this pest is not as strongly attracted to traps, so we also rely on public reporting. Please keep an eye out for this pest especially! For more information on these and other biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry, see our Kiwifruit’s Most Unwanted list on the KVH website and contact us on 0800 665 825 if you would like posters or leaflets about these pests sent out to you.
Read more25/09/2024
A reminder to RSVP and join our upcoming industry event showcasing the planning, capability building, and training underway as the industry builds its new Emergency Response Management (ERM) framework. With KVH at the helm, operational capability across the industry is being identified and trained, aimed at ensuring there is expertise ready to jump in, in the event of a significant adverse event that affects vine health on-orchard. Taking place Wednesday 30 October at Club Mount, Mount Maunganui, all are welcome to join our interactive scenario, learning more about how we would all work together to respond to a fictional summer extreme weather event that will take place in Northland. You’ll learn about the response framework and see how the response team works together in their different functions, with the opportunity to provide input into activities. All your questions about who does what, how, when, and why, will all be answered. When: 9.00am - 3.00pm, Wednesday 30 October Where: Club Mount, 45 Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui RSVP: Online here If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Read more23/09/2024
The kiwifruit industry has introduced biosecurity controls to reduce the risk of pests and diseases being spread through the movement of nursery plants and shelter plants. The Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a major component of this and ensures all nurseries selling kiwifruit plants and shelter plants are managing biosecurity risk. The movement of plant material is considered a high-risk pathway for transporting pests and pathogens over long distances. This includes known threats such as Cherry Leaf Roll Virus and Psa, but also other threats that may be present in New Zealand but not yet detected, such as Ceratocystis fimbriata. Without biosecurity controls on internal pathways, a new pest or pathogen is likely to be widespread by the time it is detected and the window for eradication may have been missed. Because of this, all nurseries and growers must meet their biosecurity responsibilities and maintain traceability. What you need to know Growers can grow plants on the property they are to be used on without any KVH controls.Growers can also move plants between KPINs under the same ownership (but only to a maximum of 1000 plants per year). Traceability records must be maintained but there are no registration or certification requirements.If more than 1000 plants per year are moved between a grower’s properties or plants are moved to another grower, then the grower must become a KPCS nursery. Growers purchasing plants must source them from KPCS certified nurseries, you can find a full list of certified nurseries here. Avoid complacency Know your responsibilities. Plan Rule 6: safe movement of nursery plants and shelter belt plants is within the industry Pathway Management Plan to protect individual growers and the industry from unnecessary risk. A breach of this rule is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993, and the penalty for this is: (a) in the case of an individual person, a fine not exceeding $5,000;(b) in the case of a corporation, a fine not exceeding $15,000.
Read more23/09/2024
Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including greater flexibility around importing requirements, fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses, higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, and higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods have been released for public consultation. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has completed a review of the current Biosecurity Act 1993, which has included active input from KVH and many others. While the Biosecurity Act is working well, there are some critical areas that need legislative change and MPI is proposing amendments that will update and modernise the Act. There are a range of proposals for discussion - KVH will be making a submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry which we will discuss in more detail in future Bulletins and share with you before finalising. The consultation package contains more than 70 proposals that span a range of areas in the biosecurity system, including: system-wide issuesfunding and compensationborder and importsreadiness and responselong-term managementsurveillance and legislative interfaces. If you would like to know more or review any of the proposals, please visit the MPI website here. Submissions close Friday 29 November 2024, and KVH welcomes any discussion you would like to have about our submission, or your own. Please feel free to get in touch.
Read more23/09/2024
Plant & Food Research (PFR) Te Puke recently hosted two international scientists, Ana Pérez-Sierra from Spain and Trudy Paap from South Africa, who shared information from research projects on phytophthora species. Phytophthora are soil-borne oomycetes or “water moulds” that can cause root and crown rot in a wide number of plants including kiwifruit. Ana, from Instituto Valenciano De investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) described how phytophthora species can transition from agricultural or horticultural settings to forestry and natural ecosystems and vice-versa, resulting in significant challenges across many global landscapes. P. ramorum (sudden oak death) is one example of a phytophthora species that has killed millions of oaks and other tree species throughout California. Trudy who is now based at the University of Pretoria, presented on her work as a forestry pathologist in Western Australia where more than 40% of native plant species have been affected by the inadvertent introduction of P. cinnamomi (known there as Jarrah dieback). She also described current projects in the global biodiversity hotspot of the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa where many endemic and endangered species are significantly challenged by the spread of P. Cinnamoni. This disease was first reported in South Africa in 1931 from avocado orchards. Silent spread of phytophthoras occurs via pathways such as human activity, trade in infected nursery plants, agricultural run-off, restoration projects, and by natural dispersal through soil and water movement including during flooding and extreme weather events. Co-ordinated efforts across sectors were recommended to prevent or reduce threats. Risk assessments to identify vulnerable areas, biosecurity measures including quarantine regulations, monitoring to ensure early detection, hygiene practices, diagnostic tools, and public awareness were identified as key in reducing impacts of these harmful organisms. Invasive phytophthoras are amongst the top eight biosecurity threats to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry. PFR, KVH, and Zespri have previously worked together on a survey of phytophthora pathogens in kiwifruit orchards throughout the country, to gain an understanding of our current baseline of phytophthora species associated with kiwifruit. A literature review on the potential impacts on kiwifruit and kiwiberry has also been completed. Biosecurity controls are in place to reduce the risk of phytophthoras being spread through the movement of kiwifruit plants and shelter plants, via the industry Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) which identifies phytophthora as a target organism. The Plant Pass scheme for nurseries producing shelter plants only also includes a phytophthora specific module. These schemes ensure traceability, nursery hygiene measures and disease management plans are in place and audited annually.
Read more23/09/2024
Anna Li has joined the KVH team as our new Systems Coordinator. Anna’s role is to support KVH’s IT infrastructure and provide data and mapping support to the team, as well as create practical new tools and systems for KVH that can be used to help provide online services to growers – particularly around traceability. Her background spans web development, software programming and mapping, offering a diverse mix of expertise to support the team. Additionally, with a horticulture certificate, she has deep insights into pest and disease control within orchard management, enriching her understanding of the agricultural sector. Before joining KVH, Anna worked as a professional landscape architect, contributing to projects ranging from residential developments to large public spaces. This role provided her with valuable experience in mapping, translating information into geographic formats, and delivering tangible results for communities.
Read more23/09/2024
Last month KVH and the Punchbowl team met with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to host a diverse and enthusiastic group from Hawaii, who were in the country learn more about both the New Zealand and kiwifruit industry biosecurity systems. The group included plant quarantine team experts, agricultural, environmental and sustainability leaders, economic and cultural members and educational and community experts, all with the purpose of gaining insights on how to build a world class biosecurity system. Hawaii's economy depends on its export of tropical plants and products, such as coffee, pineapples and papaya, with 2023 export revenue topping $600 million worth of goods and supporting nearly 205,000 jobs across the state. With 87% of businesses involved being medium and small businesses, there was strong recognition of the need to keep biosecurity threats out to protect horticultural and agricultural communities. The Psa story was shared, with reflections on how quickly impacts were felt across local communities and how rapidly industry responded to the incursion, including via development of a cost-sharing model with Government. The group were keen to understand the whole industry approach of the Psa-V National Pest Management Plan and the ongoing evolution to our current Pathway Management Plan which supports the broader biosecurity lens industry now holds. The group heard how New Zealand primary sector industries now ensure connectivity when building readiness and response plans, as part of the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA). KVH also highlighted how kiwifruit research projects on Ceratocystis fimbriata intersect with Hawaii’s own biosecurity challenge which has caused widespread death of 'ōhi'a lehua in Hawaii. Coffee rust, and foot and mouth disease were among the other risks of concern foremost in the visitor’s minds. KVH would like to thank Punchbowl for hosting this opportunity, which also included a short pack-house visit, orchard walk, and a superb home-baked New Zealand morning tea (which was very well received!).
Read more24/09/2024
KVH has a spring 2024 biosecurity flyer out now, with tips on protecting your orchard investment and managing biosecurity risk through to pollination. Share this with your teams and also check out recordings from this year’s Biosecurity Symposium now available on our YouTube channel. Remember to report unusual vine symptoms, including new or unexpected Psa-V symptoms of concern, to KVH on 0800 665 825 or by email.
Read more23/09/2024
It’s a story kiwifruit growers know all too well but one we need to keep reminding ourselves of: American citrus growers are warning New Zealand growers that a plant disease infestation can be a “catastrophe”, as it was for them in Florida, and disease prevention is key. Nate and Anne Jameson were recounting their experiences with citrus greening disease at the recent Citrus New Zealand conference. The Jamesons grew a range of citrus fruit and have run a large indoor citrus operation, Brite Leaf Nursery, for about 26 years near Tampa, in central Florida – selling to commercial and backyard customers. But their nursery has been hit by citrus greening disease, a bacterial disease transmitted by Asian and African citrus psyllids. It spread across the state, killing trees and devastating orchards, reducing Florida’s citrus production by 75% before spreading west. Nate Jameson said the destructive disease was likely imported into the US state, but local authorities were too slow to respond, and it spread rapidly. “I think the mistake that we made in Florida is we were not aggressive enough in trying to prevent disease from entering the country,” Jameson said. “We sat on our laurels; we got used to the idea that we haven’t had a problem, so why should we deal with the problem? “I think one of the messages I would like for growers in New Zealand to understand is that prevention is cheaper than reaction.” Read the full Radio NZ article about the Jameson’s experience here. One of the best ways to make sure biosecurity risk is being constantly well managed is by having and working to an on-orchard biosecurity plan for your site. The 5-step plan booklet from KVH is designed to be used as a template, with tips and suggestions for customising a biosecurity plan that works for your operation and that can be built on over time. If you would like any help with putting your plan together (either on paper or online) please get in touch.
Read more23/09/2024
New Zealand has a long history of trying to protect its natural environment from exotic pests and plant and animal diseases, and some of the strictest quarantine laws in the world. Quarantine officers first began checking imports at ports on a significant scale in the 1890s and their role expanded dramatically after the Second World War. By then quarantine authorities were monitoring the arrival of everyone and everything entering the country, whether by ship or by aircraft. How did New Zealand’s biosecurity quarantine system get to where we are today? What’s changed along the way, and what is the “gunk” in the picture above (hint: it’s never been detected in the North Island) ?? Read the fascinating New Zealand History article here.
Read more18/09/2024
2024 marks several significant milestones for the kiwifruit industry: the 35th anniversary of the Single Desk, 30 years of NZKGI, and 25 years since the Kiwifruit Industry Restructuring Act allowing Zespri’s commercial operations. To celebrate these milestones, NZKGI will be holding a special gala dinner event, Tuesday 22 October. All growers and the wider industry are kindly invited to attend. When: 5.30pm, Tuesday 22 October Where: Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui Tickets: Buy here
Read more26/08/2024
KVH will be at the Port of Tauranga over the coming weeks, highlighting frontline efforts to ensure a pest-free environment. There are many enthusiastic people who work on and around the Port who know biosecurity is a critical issue, affecting everyone in some way. With hundreds of people operating on the frontline of the Port community daily, we have lots of eyes constantly on the lookout for unwanted pests. The Port deals with millions of tonnes of cargo each year, and around 100 cruise ships over every summer, so we all need to be ready, vigilant, and watchful. Biosecurity matters at Ports because it is also a significant business risk. The frontline staff we’ll be meeting with and talking to - such as stevedores, and straddle/crane drivers - are the best placed to initially notice and report anything unusual. Our key message is if something happens, there will be a cost to you, your job, or your business, and you need to know what you can do to stop it. As the organisation responsible for leading biosecurity preparedness on behalf of the kiwifruit industry, KVH partners in this initiative alongside the Port of Tauranga and the local Biosecurity New Zealand team. Other activities with the Port community include staff from Biosecurity New Zealand visiting transitional facilities across the Bay of Plenty to share up-to-date information about managing risk and distribute useful collateral such as the ever popular 12 most unwanted pests calendar produced by the partnership, and both Biosecurity New Zealand and KVH taking part in pre-cruise season briefing sessions for the Port’s security staff. You can see online versions of the resources we’ll distribute this year here: Annual pest calendar September 2024 - August 2025"Most unwanted pests” playing cardsSpot it, snap it, report it frontline lunch bags
Read moreWhen information about unusual symptoms is reported to KVH (by growers, contractors, pack-house staff and others visiting orchards) it is then looked into to be sure that any biosecurity risk is identified, managed and the growers involved are well supported if any further action needs to be taken.
KVH prepares full reports on every investigation which you can read about by clicking on the link below. This information is provided to help growers, and others in the kiwifruit industry, identify similar symptoms they may be seeing on their own properties and to increase general awareness of how growers need to be reporting unusual symptoms that they may be seeing.
Reporting the unusual is a good thing – it shows that as an industry we are all on the lookout and aware of the need to report potential biosecurity threats that could be significant risks to the industry.
Growers, contractors, and anyone else on-orchard are the best people to spot anything unusual early on. If it's a pest or bug you're reporting, catch it if you can and take a photo. If it's a disease symptom on a plant, tree, or vine, take some clear photos but try not to touch it. Remember, the sooner a report is made and looked into, the more we can do to slow the spread and limit impacts.
Stay vigilant, be on the lookout, and report anything you notice to KVH online; on 0800 665 825; or call the Biosecurity New Zealand pest and disease hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 99 66.
You can also make reports online by submitting images to Biosecurity New Zealand here or by using the free Find-A-Pest app here to help ID pests of concern.
The potential benefit to our industry of making a report cannot be overestimated, and the earlier something is reported the greater chance we have of eradicating it.
Although generic and only slightly different for each report and case, there is a process for what happens next that you can be assured of, and that will always include ongoing support and contact with KVH.
After reporting | Description | Actions I can take to ensure smooth-running |
Identification, assessment and response | The suspicious find is identified. In most instances it is found to not be of concern with no further action required, or not new to New Zealand and managed on-orchard. If the organism is found to be new to New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand will undertake an investigation to determine risk of the organism and feasibility of undertaking action. Biosecurity New Zealand will contain the pest/pathogen to understand more about it and the impact it may have. | Timeframes from notification to a response decision vary. For pests with serious impacts that we know a lot about (like fruit fly) it can be immediate, but for others the investigation may take weeks. After reporting you need to be prepared to access and provide records and information when requested (traceability information of plant material movements on and off the property is critical for a successful response); follow directions to manage the pest/pathogen; respect confidentiality to avoid unnecessary market reaction. |
Effect on OGR | Most reports of unusual symptoms turn out to not be a biosecurity threat and there are no implications for growers. However, if a response is activated and losses are incurred because of response activities, you will be eligible for compensation under the Biosecurity Act (subject to some conditions). |
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Who to talk to | KVH provides regular information advice about managing identified pests/pathogens and how a response is unfolding. NZKGI provides advice and support information to growers. Post-harvest operators help with operations and advice. | Ensure you have stored or noted phone numbers and contact details for KVH, NZKGI and your post-harvest operator, and make sure they can be found in your absence. |
KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
23 Sep 2024
Exotic fruit flies and the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) are considered two of the biggest biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry and from now they are both in their highest-risk period for entry into New Zealand. A quick reminder of the damage these unwanted pests can do and what to look out for: Fruit flies: High likelihood of entry – have crossed our borders many times. Production impacts for a range of horticultural crops but considered low for kiwifruit. Severe market access restrictions, particularly for Queensland Fruit Fly which is not present in most major kiwifruit markets. Highly effective surveillance system with around 8000 traps nationwide. BMSB: Pierces kiwifruit resulting in fruit drop and rot. Fruit loss is typically 5-10% but up to 30% on worst blocks. Extremely difficult to eradicate – early detection is essential. Major nuisance pest overwintering inside homes in huge numbers. High likelihood of entry as a hitchhiker on shipping containers, cars, machinery, and luggage. National surveillance system and kiwifruit industry surveillance system, but this pest is not as strongly attracted to traps, so we also rely on public reporting. Please keep an eye out for this pest especially! For more information on these and other biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry, see our Kiwifruit’s Most Unwanted list on the KVH website and contact us on 0800 665 825 if you would like posters or leaflets about these pests sent out to you.
Read more25 Sep 2024
A reminder to RSVP and join our upcoming industry event showcasing the planning, capability building, and training underway as the industry builds its new Emergency Response Management (ERM) framework. With KVH at the helm, operational capability across the industry is being identified and trained, aimed at ensuring there is expertise ready to jump in, in the event of a significant adverse event that affects vine health on-orchard. Taking place Wednesday 30 October at Club Mount, Mount Maunganui, all are welcome to join our interactive scenario, learning more about how we would all work together to respond to a fictional summer extreme weather event that will take place in Northland. You’ll learn about the response framework and see how the response team works together in their different functions, with the opportunity to provide input into activities. All your questions about who does what, how, when, and why, will all be answered. When: 9.00am - 3.00pm, Wednesday 30 October Where: Club Mount, 45 Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui RSVP: Online here If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Read more23 Sep 2024
The kiwifruit industry has introduced biosecurity controls to reduce the risk of pests and diseases being spread through the movement of nursery plants and shelter plants. The Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a major component of this and ensures all nurseries selling kiwifruit plants and shelter plants are managing biosecurity risk. The movement of plant material is considered a high-risk pathway for transporting pests and pathogens over long distances. This includes known threats such as Cherry Leaf Roll Virus and Psa, but also other threats that may be present in New Zealand but not yet detected, such as Ceratocystis fimbriata. Without biosecurity controls on internal pathways, a new pest or pathogen is likely to be widespread by the time it is detected and the window for eradication may have been missed. Because of this, all nurseries and growers must meet their biosecurity responsibilities and maintain traceability. What you need to know Growers can grow plants on the property they are to be used on without any KVH controls.Growers can also move plants between KPINs under the same ownership (but only to a maximum of 1000 plants per year). Traceability records must be maintained but there are no registration or certification requirements.If more than 1000 plants per year are moved between a grower’s properties or plants are moved to another grower, then the grower must become a KPCS nursery. Growers purchasing plants must source them from KPCS certified nurseries, you can find a full list of certified nurseries here. Avoid complacency Know your responsibilities. Plan Rule 6: safe movement of nursery plants and shelter belt plants is within the industry Pathway Management Plan to protect individual growers and the industry from unnecessary risk. A breach of this rule is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993, and the penalty for this is: (a) in the case of an individual person, a fine not exceeding $5,000;(b) in the case of a corporation, a fine not exceeding $15,000.
Read more