Gourmet Blueberries Ltd Submission -Chlorpyrifos Narandra Patel Production Director Gourmet Group
My background • Blueberry crop specialist >28 years • 21 years in NZ science, 7 years private sector • Projects in NZ, USA, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina • Blueberries NZ Inc., Executive Officer • Production Director Gourmet Group
Blueberries -Gourmet Group • Gourmet Blueberries Ltd, Hastings • Gourmet Summerfruit Ltd, Roxburgh • Gourmet Vegetables div (G Paprika Ltd) • About 50- 60% of NZ’s fresh production • Intensive and high tech systems
NZ Blueberry Industry • About 80 growers but 2 growers dominate • 400ha • 1500 T? • Minor crop, value $20-25M • Production late Oct-April • Est. Waikato peatlands 1980’s • Expansion on mineral soils 1990’s • Market led growth, strong drivers
NZ Blueberry Production areas 34ºS 500 ha new traditional 46ºS
Gourmet Blueberries Ltd Hastings
Gourmet Vegetables – a division of GPL
Challenges on mineral soils • Soil and water chemistry • Organic amendment • Pests – root chewing insects
Root chewing insects • NZ Grass grub ( Costelytra zealandica ) • Tasmanian Grass grub ( Aphodius tasmanianiae ) • Porina ( Wiseana sp ) • Black Beetle (Heteronychus arator)
Organic amendment
Enclosed in VIF
NZ Grass Grub
Healthy roots
Damaged roots
Healthy Plants
Dying Plants
Limited Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos • Bioshield Serratia entomophila • Yersinia sp • Diazinon
Application Methods • Granules at plant establishment • Drip applied • Overhead application in autumn
Application
Through Drippers
By overhead sprinklers
Safe practices • Grow Safe trained operators • Use latest equipment • Re-entry periods • Net structure provides barrier • Monitor pest populations • Measure pesticide residues
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