Ornamental Plant Import Issues

Impact of emerging biosecurity risks on the ornamental import pathway

Several members have spoken with us about MPI’s emergency measures to manage the emerging risk associated with Xylella fastidiosa. This high risk / high impact pest is spreading overseas and is being identified in an expanding range of countries, host plant species (70 families) and vectors. Hence MPI’s concern which has led to measures that have impacted plant imports, and in particular ornamentals, which have not, in the past, had to be tested (some fruit tree and vine import health standards have included testing requirements for some time).

MPI and several ornamental importers will meet in Auckland on 29 November (Holiday Inn Auckland Airport, 1:00-4:30pm) to discuss the issues and options going ahead. If you’d like to join us, let Frances Palmer know – frances@nzppi.co.nz.

NZPPI Conference 2017

NZPPI will host its first conference in Hamilton in the first week of July 2017. We’re working on early plans now for something that’s different, informative and of real value to plant producers and their industry partners. Put 4-6 July in your diary, and let Frances Palmer know if you’d like to help or have ideas for the programme and other activities.

Garden Retail and Supplier meeting

The second of two meetings to discuss the future of garden retail and supply is on 1 December at Growing Spectrum, Kihikihi, Waikato (11am start). All NZPPI members and non-members engaged in garden retail and supply are welcome to attend. This an exciting opportunity to form a group of like-minded people to drive the retail garden sector of New Zealand.

If you have any questions or are interested in attending, please register your interest with sally@blueskinnurseries.co.nz or frances@nzppi.co.nz,

Young Horticulturist of the Year

Daniel Howard from Moores Valley Nurseries joined four other young contestants in Auckland last week as they battled it out for this coveted award. The youngest by far (the comps open to those under 30), Daniel impressed the judges, and was awarded 3rd place for his AGMARDT Innovation Project (a database driven nursery management system).

Andrew Hutchinson, representing Horticulture New Zealand, blitzed the competition, winning four of the seven category awards and the title of Young Horticulturist of the Year 2016. Congratulations to both Daniel and Andrew.

... more at www.younghort.co.nz

Urban and Rural Garden Fire Risk

A team at Lincoln University (and others) have a project to assess plants for the fire risk they pose to the natural and built environments. This data looks at flammability and produces data that informs fire managers of fire risk, and landowners who may wish to plant low fire risk species.

To date many natives, forest and tussock species have already been tested. They would like to extend this into a wider range of ornamentals, and seek data on popular species so that their testing can be directed at species common in the landscape.

If you’d like to help or have any queries, contact Tim Curran, Lincoln University (timothy.curran@lincoln.ac.nz). You can read more about the project and about the idea of green firebreaks here: https://theconversation.com/low-flammability-plants-could-help-our-homes-survive-bushfires-53870

... read more

GERMAC

Salient discussion points at GERMAC 1 November meeting included:

• Implementation of the new PEQ Standard.
  - The meeting agreed that the new Standard addresses import risks appropriately, and that the transition from old to new Standard is proceeding. However improved comms are needed.
  - A process was discussed to identify priority crops that need to assess against the new Level 3A criteria - essentially less onerous than the Level 3B criteria that replaced the previous Level 3 regime. Once identified, MPI’s prioritization process will determine where they fit in MPI’s workplan.
  - MPI begins a fresh communications programme in November to introduce its operator training programme.
  - A process to better understand, approach and possible share/contract surplus capacity in the new Australian facility.
• Emergency measures to counter the threat from Xylella.
• The use of accredited offshore facilities to hasten import timeframes.
• The possibility of industry (or individual) funded import health standard development.
• Preliminary discussions to inform the Level 3B Investment Logic Mapping Workshop on 21 November.

Apple Replant Disease

NZPPI's former Fruit Tree Sector has recently completed a project with Plant and Food Research and MPI's Sustainable Farming fund to seek alternatives to fumigation to mitigate the impact of "apple replant disease". It causes poor plant growth because of trees being replanted on sites. Traditionally combatted through fumigation and long crop rotation times the project sought alternatives to this expensive method.

... read more

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New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated
(formery The Nursery & Garden Industry Association of New Zealand)
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