Harvest hygiene important to reduce risk of spreading Psa resistance/tolerance to control products

Research clearly shows that as we move into autumn and temperatures drop and rainfall increases, Psa-V inoculum levels start to rise.

With the upcoming harvest we will also see a big increase in movement of people and machinery between orchards.

Growers and contractors are reminded to make sure good orchard hygiene practices are in place; not just to reduce the risk of spreading Psa-V through machinery, tools, people and vehicles, but also to reduce the risk of spreading streptomycin-resistant and copper-tolerant/resistant Psa-V that may be present but undetected.

As previously reported, streptomycin resistance and copper tolerance has been found on a small number of orchards but may well be present on other orchards. Where it has been identified, orchards are being managed to ensure best practice is being carried out. This includes heightened hygiene measures, particularly during harvest, to reduce the spread to other orchards.

Best practice hygiene

• Ensure all harvest equipment entering your orchard including picking bags has been cleaned and santitised before entering your orchard and it is cleaned again before moving off the orchard.
• Minimise plant material entering bins during picking.
• Remove plant material before bins are sent to packhouse.
• Provide clean down areas with suitable sanitisers for machinery wash down and ensure plant material is not moved off orchard.

Click here for KVH Best Practice: Orchard Hygiene