Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
07/10/2024
The seriousness of meeting biosecurity requirements was highlighted recently with the company and director of a nursery who illegally took 220 imported plants out of quarantine after just one day, fined $42,500. Elliott Wholesale Nursery Limited - which is not a kiwifruit nursery - is a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) registered Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility. Under the Biosecurity Act, imported plants should be in quarantine for three months. In September 2022, the nursery imported 600 Nandina domestica tissue culture – an evergreen shrub from Australia. The plants were unpacked and placed in PEQ, where they needed to remain for the full three months. However, after just one day, Mr Elliot removed 220 of these plants, placing them in a non PEQ area. To avoid detection and to circumnavigate the biosecurity rules designed to protect New Zealand from potentially unwanted pests and diseases, he replaced these plants with similar looking domestic plants, which he admitted doing to an employee who questioned him. No pests or diseases were found on the plants that were taken out of the quarantine facility.
Read more09/10/2024
KVH was thrilled to present a biosecurity competition module as part of the National Young Grower of the Year finals in Hawke’s Bay yesterday (Wednesday). The six contestants were tested on their general knowledge of pathway risk management and on-orchard biosecurity planning. They all showed a great understanding of how to protect their property boundaries, and the practical steps to make a great biosecurity plan that ensures best biosecurity practice every day. Winners of the regional fruit and vegetable grower competitions were the contestants that battled it out across seven modules for the grand title, with the winner announced later this evening (Thursday) so be sure to check the news or the Young Grower of the Year website here.
Read more07/10/2024
Another example of bogus, or at least inaccurate, declaration details involved a recent package from Australia that was supposed to contain glass beads. Further scrutiny by officers at the International Mail Centre revealed four packets of germinating seeds on wet tissue paper. The parcel was destroyed, and the importer received a letter outlining their biosecurity responsibilities.
Read more07/10/2024
KVH operates an Unusual Symptom process where we encourage growers and members of the industry to report anything unexpected happening on-orchard. Early reporting gives us the best possible chance of successfully managing any biosecurity risk and thereby reducing impacts to growers and wider industry. Earlier this year, an orchard was sampled that had pockets of vines showing symptoms of poor cane and canopy development, splitting, and cankering on the trunks and relatively poor root systems. Multiple kiwifruit pathogens were identified from these samples, which is common in this process, as well as a new-to-New Zealand oomycete (fungus-like organism), Phytopythium helicoides. As P. helicoides is a known pathogen to horticultural and ornamental plants from 20 families, as well as kiwifruit, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigated to determine any biosecurity risk. While P. helicoides has not been previously detected in New Zealand, it is not necessarily a new arrival. In fact, our increased surveillance efforts and the recent advances in molecular diagnostics mean that we are often discovering organisms that we weren’t previously aware of in kiwifruit orchards. KVH and Zespri Innovation recently commissioned a Phytophthora survey of kiwifruit orchards for this very reason, to build our baseline knowledge of pathogens that already exist within our industry orchards and ensure we take appropriate action for any future new detections. To support this investigation, samples collected from this research were able to be revisited and evidence was found to confirm that P. helicoides is not a new arrival, has been present in New Zealand since at least 2022 but probably much longer, and is present in multiple kiwifruit growing regions. KVH has worked with growers where this organism has been detected to ensure appropriate on-orchard practices are in place to manage risk, and MPI have now closed the investigation confident that management of comparable diseases already present in New Zealand will likely be effective to also manage P. helicoides. This case study serves as a reminder of the value of proactive research to build our baseline knowledge, growers reporting unusual symptoms, and all of us as an industry not being complacent in on-orchard biosecurity practices - as we never know where and when the next biosecurity threat will appear.
Read more08/10/2024
On school holidays overseas, kiwi kid Leo from the Bay of Plenty couldn’t help being a biosecurity champion and reporting his bug find. While out-and-about in Germany, young Leo saw what he knew was a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and snapped a photo to send through to dad back home in New Zealand. Needless to say, he’ll be double checking his belongings and bags before returning home. See Leo’s BMSB photos here. This level of vigilance (especially while on holiday) is great to see – a big shout out from KVH to Leo for being so aware of what the BMSB looks like, and for knowing what to do to ensure it doesn’t travel back to New Zealand with him. This is an example of how easily one of these bugs could make its way here and what a difference each of one of us can make just by being aware and taking a few simple steps. Everyone in the kiwifruit industry has a responsibility to manage biosecurity risks when travelling. We’ve developed best practice for kiwifruit growers to help reduce biosecurity risk after being overseas (especially if also visiting an orchard or farm); and to explain what growers can expect at border control when arriving back in New Zealand.
Read more10/10/2024
The kiwifruit industry has a strong focus on ensuring orchard services agreements between orchardists and beekeepers are agreed ahead of the pollination season. These conversations also provide the perfect opportunity to discuss mutual biosecurity requirements, as beekeepers need to supply growers with a copy of their Non-CAV Contractors Biosecurity Plan and orchardists also need to highlight their own site requirements. There are a range of bee pests and diseases present in New Zealand, which are challenging for our hive providers, and there is value in both beekeepers and the public being on the lookout for the unusual, as there is always some level of risk that exotic bee pests and diseases could slip in across the border. New incursions would have significant effects on both the beekeeping industry and the sectors they support. See a summary of bee pest and diseases here. Bee biosecurity resources can be found on the Biosecurity New Zealand website, including their Bee Biosecurity Guide for beekeepers and Bee Biosecurity Essentials. A new research platform also gives beekeepers a chance to share their expertise to improve the health of the nation’s beehives. Through pollination, growers can support bee biosecurity by providing bees with a clean water source, and by contacting their beekeeper if hives appear down on foraging activity, there are problems with swarming bees, or large numbers of dead hives are seen outside hive entrances. Hygiene is a key component of bee biosecurity so it is important that planned hive audits, and sugar feeding activities are also discussed as diseases can be transferred between hives by poor hygiene practices. The importance of continuing to work with and learn from the apiculture industry was highlighted at one of our most popular 2024 Biosecurity Symposium sessions, featuring Danny Le Feuvre’s reflections from the Australian Varroa Mite response,
Read more10/10/2024
Unfortunately, we are no longer running the emergency response exercise advertised for 30 October. If you registered, you should have received email advice from KVH this morning. These types of exercises are part of our regular training schedule – please look out in the Bulletin for advice about the next one we schedule. In the meantime, if you would like to know more about our response training and the framework behind it please see our website here and video of our most recent exercise at our August Symposium here.
Read more23/09/2024
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 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.
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KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
The KVH portal is now the Zespri Weather & Disease Portal. Access all the weather tools you're familiar with.