Budbreak is well underway for most Gold3 sites and it is recommended growers complete Psa monitoring rounds to check for early signs of the diseases.

Reports from Gisborne, Edgecumbe and Opotiki regions confirm exudate is now showing in Psa cankers and some girdles for sites where Psa has been more prevalent. A few new hot spots have also been seen, often where spray programmes or hygiene have been compromised.

The Psa Risk Model currently shows fine weather through to Tuesday next week for most regions, with a four-to-five-day period of moderate risk following. Advice is to complete monitoring and ensure copper protection of new growth before this risk period.

A review of the number of days with moderate or severe Psa risk reported through winter and early spring (across the weather station network) can give growers some clues as to which regions may have more Psa pressure this year.

Whangarei has the highest number of risk days (65 days), followed by Waikato (55 days), Te Puna, Katikati, Kerikeri and Waihi (43-50 days). Nelson, Edgecumbe, Opotiki and Te Puke have between 34-39 days, while Gisborne and the Hawkes Bay had drier winters reporting around 25 days of moderate or severe Psa risk through the period.

Image below: KVH Risk Model view of Te Puke risk through to the end of September