One of the most important factors when dealing with an unwanted pest incursion is the ability to quickly identify locations where that pest may be present. Not knowing physical locations or being able to quickly identify locations where the pest may be, can cause significant delays in identifying the scale of the problem, preventing further…
There has been a lot talk about farm biosecurity since the signing of Government Industry Agreement (GIA) – but what actually is farm biosecurity and what are growers expected to do? Farm biosecurity includes a range of management practices and activities that are carried out on your property to prevent the entry and spread of…
Sixty plus people, from over 35 different business attended the free Health & Safety workshops organised by Potatoes New Zealand. These workshops provided a welcome opportunity to be proactive about Health & Safety and enhance understanding in a neutral environment. The workshops, run by Potatoes NZ and WorkSafe NZ, were held in Rakaia, Winchester, Pukekohe,…
Sarah Wirth, President of HETTANZ discussed ‘Getting potatoes back in the classroom’ at the recent Potatoes NZ conference. The following is Sarah’s report… What I learnt from our HETTANZ members is that potatoes have never really left the classroom. Potatoes are a perfect fit with the two New Zealand curriculums areas of Home Economics and…
Potatoes are the perfect side for every meal, every day. They can be served boiled, mashed, roasted, baked or in a stew. Potatoes are great in salads, stuffed for a more substantial side and made into gnocchi, chips, wedges and hashbrowns/rostis. Potatoes are easy to prepare and are very versatile. Leftover potatoes can easily be…
New potatoes have a delicate flavour and are usually available from the end of winter. They are young potatoes and unlike their fully grown counterparts, they keep their shape once cooked and cut. They are also sweeter because their sugar has not yet converted into starch, and are therefore particularly suited to salads. Choose the…
New Zealand country freedom for Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) haplotypes B, C, D and E. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has recently notified that New Zealand has country freedom for the organism Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) and its haplotypes B, C, D and E. CLso is a bacterium transmitted by psyllids causing disease symptoms…
A recently published Ontario Produce Marketing Association research report proposes how improving table potato quality and pack-out can increase profitability. Click here to download the case study.
Dickeya dianthicola has been found in a commercial potato crop north of Perth, Western Australia – read more… Dickeya dianthicola Photo credit: Steve Johnson
As part of our readiness and response obligations under GIA we are profiling a number of priority pests. Black Bean Aphid is not currently in New Zealand but it’s important that we all have a good understanding off the threat Black Ban Aphid could pose, if it gets to New Zealand. Black bean aphid is…