Controls for the 'aggressive containment” of the kiwifruit disease Psa-V are now in place following its discovery on two Te Awamutu orchards.

Around 70 people attended an emergency meeting called by Kiwifruit Vine Health and Zespri in Cambridge to hear updates on the first incursion the disease in that region, the newly established ‘controlled area' and the next steps for growers.

Those attending included growers, packhouse operators and horticultural contractors. They were told that KVH has developed a set of South Waikato controlled area ‘protocols' to assist growers with containment of the disease.

This includes the requirement for orchardists to develop a Psa-V Orchard Management Plan, with the support of their Packhouse Psa managers.

The main messages to growers was to monitor their orchards extensively and report any suspicious symptoms to KVH, implement and maintain a protective spray programme, ensure strict hygiene procedures are carried out on orchards and stop movement of any potentially high risk orchard equipment and plant material.

In a statement KVH says it and the kiwifruit industry are demanding strict adherence to ‘movement controls' to stop the potential spread of Psa-V via contaminated equipment and machinery used on kiwifruit orchards.

Recent research has confirmed Psa-V can survive for extended periods of time on inanimate surfaces such as plastic, wood and steel. This means the potential for equipment and machinery to harbour and transfer Psa to subsequent orchards is very high.

With the Priority Zone now encompassing most regions within the Bay of Plenty, a voluntary ‘ban' is being applied by growers and the industry to discourage and prevent any on-orchard equipment and machinery leaving and/or moving between these regions.

On orchard wash-down facilities and vigilant inspections of equipment leaving and entering orchards will provide some assurance for safe movement between sites within a region.

However, where possible, stopping on-orchard equipment and machinery moving to regions with less Psa-V infection is the only sure way to prevent the mechanical spread of Psa-V, the statement says.

This restriction should be applied to all vehicles, machinery and equipment that have been used, or are intended to be used, on a kiwifruit orchard and includes (but is not limited to) sprayers, fertiliser spreaders, soil aerators, mowers, shelter-belt trimmers, tractors, fencing equipment, personal pruning equipment.

KVH is training operators to provide an inspection/clearance service for their own equipment/machinery. There are also inspection sites located at either end of the high Priority Zone in Te Puke where an independent inspection can be requested to ensure that equipment has been fully decontaminated.

The two Waikato cases of Psa were reported on Friday August 17 and confirmed on Monday.

As at August 16, 17 new cases of Psa-V had been identified, two in the Waihi region; three in the Katikati region; three in Tauranga East; three in Te Puke, three in the Whakatane and four in Opotiki. That brought the total number of orchards infected to 1262, representing 47 per cent of the country's hectares planted in kiwifruit.

A recent economic impact report estimates that Psa will cost the kiwifruit industry between $310m-$410m in the next five years; $500m-$600m in the next ten years; and $740m-$885m over the next 15 years. The effect on regional economies and related businesses will push the total cost of Psa much higher.

Growers can find more information on movement controls in the Waikato at www.kvh.org.nz/movement_controls