FARMLANDS HORTFOCUS
The latest on practices, people and products for a growing industry
Welcome to the spring 2016 edition of Farmlands HortFocus.
Farmlands understands and recognises that as the horticulture industry continues to produce and diversify, growers need to know what products will improve their operations and what new technologies are available to them. This edition includes information on:
ā¢ Beekeeping
ā¢ ColourIt reflective cloth
ā¢ Excel Oils
ā¢ Copper fungicide
ā¢ Galuku hydroponic substrate blocks
ā¢ Marine plant extracts
For further information on any of the products included in HortFocus, talk to your Farmlands Technical Advisor or visit the team at your local Farmlands store.
Beekeeping on the rise
The apiculture industry in New Zealand continues its boom. The number of hobby and commercial beekeepers, hives and all things beekeeping related on the rise, driven by huge local and global demand for our quality honey and honey-related products, or simply personal interest and satisfaction in keeping bees.
Itās a good thing too, given the significant role the humble honey bee plays not only supporting the horticulture and agriculture industries but also our day to day lives.
In the past 12 months, Farmlands has backed this growth and increasing demand from our shareholders. We started stocking beekeeping equipment from Ecrotek (New Zealandās biggest beekeeping supplier) at selected stores and now we are rolling out to other regions.
So why not get involved with a hive (or even several) of your own today. You can keep bees just about anywhere, and itās hugely rewarding. In an average year, a single beehive can produce 30kg of honey per season. In good years this number can even exceed 50kg, as long as your bees have enough
food, maintenance and the right conditions during the season. You can either keep the honey all for yourself, share it with friends, or make some additional income from your land.
Grab a copy of the āPractical Beekeeping in New Zealandā book from your local Farmlands store. This book is a fantastic starting point, giving you all the information you need to get up and running with bees. Another good place to start is with your local beekeeping club, with members who have a wealth of knowledge and are keen to share their beekeeping passion.
To find the club closest to you, get in touch with the National Beekeeping Association at www.apinz.org.nz
To view our range of beekeeping products, visit www.farmlands/horiculture and select āBee Keeping Product Guideā (featured below).
Article supplied by Ecrotek.
ColorIt reflective cloth
Thereās a simple reason why growers use ColorIt reflective cloth āto dramatically increase their crop value.
ColorIt, a tough woven polypropylene cloth offered by Farmlands and produced by Hawkeās Bayās Proline Products Limited, can significantly lift orchard profitability by increasing three things top growers strive for:
1. The amount of crop picked for export instead of juice ā YIELD
2. High colour grades in the packout ā VALUE
3. Crop picked early in the export interval ā QUALITY
Results from recent tests on Scilate Envy apples by horticulture consultant and scientist Jack Hughes from Fruition Horticulture, demonstrate and reinforce the value of using ColorIt.
The Hawkeās Bay study was undertaken over a period of 36 days prior to harvest and included a control area where no reflective cloth product was used.
The study showed that where ColorIt was used, the percentage of apples with more than 50 percent colour was 23 percent higher than apples in the control area with no cloth. That is a significant improvement, which translates into a significant increase in growerās returns per hectare.
Other independent trials done by growers in various growing regions throughout the world have produced anecdotal evidence of significant benefits similar to the Hawkeās Bay study. In some orcharding areas, investment in reflective cloth is now seen as essential.
The benefits of ColorIt are also being discovered by cherry grower, who report harvesting larger fruit with better overall colour and earlier harvest dates.
Those benefits of harvesting earlier ā in some cases by several days ā and then exporting earlier to obtain premium prices, have been hugely significant for returns per hectare.
The performance of ColorIt reflective cloth is related to the amount of light reflected onto fruit.
Light reflection is improved by:
ā¢ Smaller canopies ā settled, open and smaller canopies get much better responses than tall, dense, shady ones.
ā¢ Better ground coverage ā the higher the percentage of ground coverage, the more reflection. We suggest at least 75 percent, i.e. 3m cloth in a 4m row.
ā¢ Longer duration ā we recommend a 3 week minimum to allow for cloudy weather and shortening day length affecting late season varieties.
ColorIt is a durable and proven product that is resistant to UV damage and is available in a range of widths and lengths.
Proline Products has also developed an innovative new attachment called āGator Clipsā, these hold ColorIt in place while itās being used. The clips are made from durable polypropylene, they clamp onto the cloth rather than piercing it, this allows for faster and more accurate application. The clips are attached by a bungee cord to the tree. Easily adjusted at both ends, the bungee can be set to the perfect tension, saving time and effort. An added bonus is the fact that they do not cause tractor tyre punctures if inadvertently left in the orchard.
While export prices are high, labour and machinery costs are also high. The extra bonus for growers using ColorIt reflective cloth, is that they can maximise the yield, value and quality of their crops and at the same time minimise costly additional picks and machinery downtime.
Article supplied by Proline Products Limited.
ColorIt is a proven, durable product.
The Excel Oil range
The ExcelĀ® range of horticultural oils is formulated and marketed by Grochem Limited, a name well known and respected by horticulturalists throughout New Zealand.
Grochem has been supplying Excel Oil products for 20 years and during this time they have expanded the range to include Excel Oil, Excel Organic Oil and Excel Plus Surfactant. All of these products have been independently tested and found to offer low phytotoxicity and high efficacy. The low phytotoxicity is due to a typical analysis of 98 percent or higher unsulfonated residue, meaning the products are formulated from high quality paraffinic oils.
Horticultural mineral oils share the same mode of action ā being they smother and suffocate both insect pests and fungi ā so how does the Excel range of oils differ?
Excel Oil ā contains 843g/L mineral oil plus gentle emulsifiers to enable both pre-season and in season use (where appropriate). This comprises of use in apples, pears, stonefruit, avocados, kiwifruit, citrus and grapes. It is commonly used to spread suitable insecticides in order to enhance coverage and efficacy.
Excel Organic Oil ā contains 823g/L mineral oil plus an organically certified emulsifier system to meet all New Zealand and International organic standards. This product is registered for the same pre-season and in season uses as Excel Oil, the only difference being the organic acceptability.
Excel Plus Surfactant ā contains 832g/L mineral oil plus an organo-modified siloxane spreader. This is a specialty product for the use of enhancing the spreading and coverage of certain insecticides typically applied with oil. Independent testing (Gaskin PPCNZ) has demonstrated increases in coverage of up to 50 percent. Unlike most other spreaders and wetters, the surfactant in Excel Plus reduces the surface tension of the oil rather than the water, so the oil and insecticide continue to spread even after the spray water has dried. Excel Plus is a pre mixed formulation, so no additional surfactants need to be measured and added to the spray tank at the time of use, thus simplifying the operation.
Excel Oil products are available at Farmlands stores.
Article supplied by GroChem.
Supercharged copper fungicide
The latest advance in formulation technology takes protectant copper fungicides to a whole new level for New Zealand growers this spring.
ChampION++Ā® from Nufarm, which is exclusive to Farmlands, features highly uniform copper hydroxide particles, whose average size is one of the smallest available for this type of chemistry. This enables low rates of active ingredient to be applied per hectare.
Whatās more, Nufarm technical expert Alan Cliffe says ChampION++ is BioGroĀ® certified as an approved crop input for organic growers.
āChampION++ is all about doing more with less. Because of the way it has been formulated, it provides excellent coverage and disease control with low use rates,ā Alan says.
Containing 300g/kg copper as copper hydroxide, the new product is registered for control of a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases on fruit, vegetable and brassica crops.
At this time of the season, itās likely to be of immediate relevance to pipfruit, avocado, citrus and grape growers planning their spring disease management strategies.
But it is also registered for feijoas, kiwifruit, stonefruit, asparagus, onions, tomatoes and pine trees, among many other crops.
Alan says the new formulation was a global development project, with the specific goal of raising the bar for modern copper treatments.
Not only are the copper hydroxide crystalline particles contained in ChampION++ smaller than most other coppers currently available, they are highly consistent, so it delivers a greater number of smaller, more precisely shaped particles (average size 1.8 micron) to give better coverage of the leaf surface.
Because smaller particles have proportionately greater surface area, the result is a higher release of Cu++ ions, which in turn means lower use rate and subsequent environmental loading.
āItās a unique combination,ā Alan says. āAnd there are also some other important benefits associated with the product.ā
The WDG formulation is low-dust, stable, free flowing, easily pourable and quick to disperse in water.
It contains a highly efficient and environmentally friendly biodispersant, which suits both conventional and organic use and ChampION++ paper packaging means there is no plastic container to dispose of after use.
Compatible with most commonly used fungicides and insecticides, the new product comes in 10kg packs. For more information, talk to your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Nufarm.
*As a special introductory offer, growers will receive a free 3L volumetric measuring jug with any purchase of ChampION++ from Farmlands, while stocks last.
Galuku coir substrate blocks
Farmlands has been exclusively supplying Galuku brand coir products to its horticultural shareholders throughout New Zealand for 3 years. Shareholders have experienced tremendous success using Galuku coir products, with improvements in plant health and production.
Coir products are manufactured using the by-product husk and chip from the coconut processing industry. The products are therefore natural, sustainable and have no environmental disposal problems. Galuku has been supplying its coir products around the world for more than 20 years and currently supplies its products throughout Australia, Asia, USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and across Europe and the UK.
Galuku hydroponic products are used in greenhouse vegetable and flower crop production, and by other plant producers who are seeking a durable, cost effective substrate. These hydroponic products are sleeved in co-extruded, high density plastic sleeves, with customised UV treatment for the intended crop and production cycle requirements.
In addition to these purpose manufactured products, a large part of the business in New Zealand is the supply of 4.5kg naked coir substrate blocks. These blocks are available in
various grades to suit flower growers and manufacturers of growing media. e.g. for the production of seed raising mixes, potting mixes and hydroponic growing mediums.
The coir material absorbs up to eight times its own weight in water. The balanced ratio of water holding capacity and air fill porosity make it a perfect growing substrate for a great variety of plants.
The 4.5kg blocks have the following specifications:
ā¢ Size = 28 x 28 x 14cm compressed.
ā¢ Weight = 4.5kg
ā¢ Volume = 60L
ā¢ EC < 1.5.0dsc
ā¢ pH = 5.8 ā 6.2
Farmlands stocks two grades of Galuku 4.5kg blocks in New Zealand:
ā¢ Standard Root Zone grade (often known as āfineā) with a screened particle size of 1 to 6mm
ā¢ Husk Chip grade with a screened particle size of 10-30mm
Other custom grade blocks can be specifically manufactured to a clientās requirements, however minimum order quantities (full shipping container equivalents) and lead times apply for these products.
For further information on Galuku coir products, please contact your local Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Farmlands Horticulture.
4.5kg substrate blocks
The science of seaweed
Acadian Seaplants Limited, a global leader in the manufacture of marine-plant extracts, is partnering with Farmlands to offer plant health products for New Zealand crop applications.
Acadian Seaplants is a diversified, technologyābased manufacturer that delivers premium products to global agricultural, animal feed, health, beauty and food service industries. With more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural industry, Acadian Seaplants is a fully integrated company - from the sustainable harvest of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed, to product and application development, manufacturing and technical customer support.
Acadianās products are sold around the world as specialty fertilisers and biostimulants for continuous crop improvement. For crops, Acadian products have met with success in improving plant and fruit/vegetable quality in a number of economically important crops. Acadian has gained experience in crops as diverse as grapes, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, turf and ornamentals by pin-pointing the benefits associated with specific rates, timings and application types (foliar and soil). From a research standpoint, in addition to its own complement of scientists including 12 PhDs, Acadian has chosen to work with the best research scientists around the world in order to identify specific crop challenges to improve overall yield, quality or post-harvest life.
These research findings are most often published in peerreviewed science journals and immediately made available to growers. Some of the more exciting recent advances include a better understanding of how Acadian products elicit hormonal responses in the plant and stimulate rooting support for early plant establishment. Published evidence also show beneficial effects for soil health by encouraging soil microbes such as beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae. These organisms help plants by mineralising nutrients to make them more available to the plant, as well as producing various compounds to further stimulate plant roots.
Given the importance of soil health and nutrient availability, the application of Acadian products into soils via drip and root drench treatments can provide a jumpstart for your crops. If we combine these with well-known benefits of rachis stretch in grapes, a
stimulation of anti-oxidant activity in a number of crops and improved chlorophyll content and photosynthesis, Ascophyllum nodosum extracts can provide benefits in many integrated programmes, be they sustainable, organic or conventional.
To dig even deeper, some of the ground-breaking information coming from Acadian science is the identification of how its products up-regulate and down-regulate the plantās own genetic mechanisms, to allow them to produce a number of stimulatory and protective compounds. These plant health compounds then help protect the crop from various environmental (abiotic) and some biotic stresses. Evidence suggests the treated plants have a greater tolerance for drought, salinity and high temperatures. New data also suggests a degree of protection against lower temperature stresses as well as some disease pressures. Although it is important to mention that these products are not fungicidal in nature, they appear to fortify the plantās own defenses, allowing them to sustain growth and production under these biotic or abiotic challenges.
A cornerstone of Acadianās research is in its ability to communicate our science. Acadian is proud of its technical and business relationships and count on friends and partners to keep us upto-speed on in-field developments. For this reason, Acadian is pleased to partner with Farmlands, a well-known and respected leader in crop protection products. Together, we can provide excellent and trusted technical advice on a number of crop programmes, identify benefits and ensure that our marineplant technologies provide a competitive advantage to crop management programmes.
Dr. Jeff Norrie
Agricultural Research Scientist, Acadian Seaplants Limited.
FARMLANDS HORTICULTURE PRODUCT GUIDE
The Farmlands Horticulture Product Guide is the largest and most comprehensive guide we have compiled.
As the horticulture industry continues to produce and diversify, growers need to know what products will improve their operations ā and what options are available in a growing industry. Farmlands has launched the Horticulture Product Guide in recognition of this. The guide contains products for every corner of the horticulture industry, with product selections for viticulturists, apiarists and everyone in between.
The guide features organic crop protection and nutrition products that are available through Farmlands, as well as soil conditioners and biostimulants. Your Farmlands
Technical Advisor can work with you to build a programme for your crop needs.
To pick up your copy, talk to your Farmlands
Technical Advisor or visit your local Farmlands store.
Farmlands Horticulture Technical Team
Farmlands technical staff are the go-to group for all things horticulture. Expert knowledge is complemented by on-site training, ensuring your team of Technical Advisors are at the forefront of the latest product and practice developments. Talk to your local Farmlands Horticulture team member today, to see how they can help your business grow.