Paeony growers are expected to begin trials of a new spraying
programme next week as negotiations continue with the United States
Department of Agriculture over restrictions on cut flower imports
from New Zealand.
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture suspended
all imports of New Zealand flowers and foliage after discovering
light brown apple moths on a shipment of forsythia and other flowers
grown outdoors in the South Island.
For paeony growers, time to introduce changes is limited.
Picking is due to start in less than three weeks in some northern
centres and six weeks in the south.
New Zealand Paeony Society president Rodger Whitson, of Wingatui,
has been encouraged by the all-clear given to some 25 cymbidium
orchid glasshouses this week. (A further 10 were inspected and
rejected.)Yesterday, he said there was about a 40% chance the paeony
industry could also get approval, provided it could satisfy the US
it had an acceptable risk-management programme in place.
Rather than wait for the outcome of the USDA negotiations, which
is not expected for another week, growers are being asked to be
proactive and begin spraying next week.
Sprayed plant samples would be checked by a North Island
laboratory to ensure spraying was effective, Mr Whitson said.
It seemed likely that future requirements for growers would
include spraying in the field and fumigation once blooms were
picked.
While some growers did both already, as he did, many did one or
the other.
He expected the programme would require targeted spraying for the
moth and each export grower would need to be inspected and
certified.
