Technical Report 23 rd of August 2016

Transcription

1 Technical Report 23 rd of August General This report covers the period between the previous board meeting on the 20th of May 2016 and the 25 th of July When looking at the Macadamia industry Unsound Kernel Distribution (USK) for 2015, the most important contributors to unsound kernel are in decreasing order of importance: Discolouration (26%), Early stinkbug (24%), Immatures (22%), late stinkbug (14%), mould and others (5%), and 791 spot (2%). When adding early and late stinkbug up it comes to 38%, and then it is the largest contributor to unsound kernel. The SAMAC loss factor benchmark study reports are one of the guides in helping us prioritizing research projects (see more information and actions under Conclusion below). 2. Summary of area reports from all the production areas A. In die Levubu/Soutpansberg & Cape areas the past season resulted in smaller kernels due to the drought experienced in the Soutpansberg and Levubu. The nut shells were also thicker this season which had a significant influence on the kernel recovery rates. Together with lower recovery rates, the unsound were also very high. The average stinkbug damage recorded by one processor for this season was 3.10%. The average unsound kernel was 4.62% on a total kernel recovery rate of 32.02%. Other defects included glassy nuts (see previous report), mouldy nuts and < 18mm nuts. The trees were pruned very well this season and an open flower can be seen on 788 while the flower on the 344 in generally still closed. In George, the average kernel recovery rate this past season was 38.02%. The top performers in terms of production were Yonick, 834, 772, Nelmak 26, A16 and A38 (Figure 1). Braam van Wyk agreed to share this data with Mark Penter and in future include unsound figures in the cultivar trials. Page 1 of 11

2 Figure 1. Cultivar trial results from Hoekwil, Western Cape. The cultivars were sorted from most productive (left) to least productive (right) and the kernel recovery rates are shown. Projek feedback 1.1 New cultivars: Levubu region Two new cultivars will be trialed at Maclands Estate. 1.2 Macadamia management calendar and phenology chart Each grower were handed an empty phenology chart to track the phenology of their trees according to cultivar, tree ages and region of planting. These charts were handed out to the growers and also sent via following a study group held in Levubu on 21 April 2016 at Carel Pretorius in Levubu and 14 June at Braam van Wyk in Hoekwil. This information will be compiled to form a better understanding on the tree phenology in the Soutpansberg / Levubu region and also in the George area of the Western Cape. 1.3 Fungal macadamia disease Growers have been encouraged to spray preventatively for fungal infections in the coming season. However, where the inoculum is not high in the orchard we may not see much fungal activity due to the dry prevailing conditions. 1.4 Nursery audits As the result of a comprehensive harmonization workshop, we thank Barry for compiling a Procedure for dispute with regards to quality of trees. Page 2 of 11

3 1.5 Transformation project The extension training commenced on the 20 th of July. This course relying on the macadamia cultivation course material compiled by Philip Lee. The technical agricultural extension officers currently enrolled for the course (Picture 1) are employed by government and serve small holder macadamia farmers in Limpopo. The course will consist of practical (4 sessions) and theoretical (3 sessions) training sessions. The course are presented by Dries Alberts who has more than 50 years of experience in agriculture and more than 30 years experience in macadamia cultivation. Picture 1. Agriculture extension officers taking part in the SAMAC transformation fund related training. 1.6 Journal technical articles and management in briefs Clear guidelines on harvesting, maturity testing and pruning have been published in the Journal along with a tabled management in brief. 1.7 Stink bug control The registration trial for Beauveria bassiana are complete and the final draft of the report will be sent to Madumbi. Nut borer presence in the field could decrease the amount of kernel, while immaturity due to incompletion of the maturation process may be due to stink bug damage or physiological shortcomings of the trees. In this study the kernel recovery rates were not significantly different between treatments. There was also no significant effect on nut borer damage or immaturity. There were no significant treatment effects on the sound kernel recovery rate. The unsound kernel recovery rate are one of the main indications of kernel quality and hence management efficacy on the farm. Page 3 of 11

4 1.8 Study groups In total six successful Study Groups have been held so far this year addressing various important topics. Future dates & study groups 22 September 2016: Nursery trees (Andy Tonks). 7 October 2016: Levubu Farmer s Day (Maclands Estate). 24 November 2016: Annual general meeting and year-end function (Maclands Estate) B. In Die Letaba area was daar teen einde Julie 2016 baie min neute aan die bome oor, en verwerkingsaanlegte staan amper stil terwyl hul moet wag vir die seisoen se laaste Beaumont om in te kom. Laas jaar hierdie tyd was dit nog piek-oestyd. Oesopbrengs is merkbaar minder as wat aan die begin van die seisoen voorspel was. Groot hoeveelheid unsound kernel, en onvolwasse neut was aan verwerkers gelewer hierdie seisoen. Na n goeie Maart reënval (>200mm), was daar slegs ~30mm neerslag in Mei, en weer ~15mm neerslag in Julie. Die Tzaneen dam staan op 28.7% van maksimum kapasiteit, waar dit 12 maande gelede 64% was. Stinkbesie skade prolifereer. Maar daar was ook produsente wat baie minder skade toon n aanduiding dat stinkbesieskade geminimaliseer kan word deur effektiewe insek beheerstrategieë soos voldoende scouting, boombestuur en regte spuitprogramme. Blaaspootjie skade was ook volop in Letsitele. Haelskade het n knou gedien aan neut opbrengs in Politsi. Die SAMAC bestuur het die area se makadamia-produsente toegespreek op 15 Julie by Hotel@Tzaneen, tydens n nasionale roadshow. Bywoning was goed gewees en waardevolle inligting was aan produsente oorgedra. Plaas-akkreditasie was ook bespreek en die algemene gevoel onder produsente was dat dit die beste sal wees om direk na GlobalGAP-akkreditasie te poog, eerder as eerste n alternatief te gebruik soos as SA-GAP. Dit het baie goed gegaan met die eerste studiegroep in die Letaba area sommer baie produsente het dit bygewoon. Die rede was dat belangrike en relevante inligting op die studiegroep bespreek is. Page 4 of 11

5 Area program/projects 2015 terugvoer Projekte sal in die volgende maande vir Andries bepaal word aangesien hy nou maar eers 6 maande werk. Maar hy neem die bestuur van die Makadamia Kwekery Kommittee by Barry Christie oor in Augustus. C. In KZN the production period has continued to be extremely dry in KwaZulu-Natal and below average rainfall has been recorded in all areas. However, at the time of writing this report (25 July), heavy rains are falling throughout the province bringing much needed relief especially as flowering is underway (above average rainfall will thus be recorded for July). Recorded temperatures have been on average very similar to the long term means and it has generally been a fairly mild winter with a few light frosts recorded at the South Coast. Yields continue to be down this season as we see the knock-on effect of the drought. This effect is more evident on the North Coast than the South Coast. Cultivar 695 has performed noticeably well during the drought generally bearing well albeit smaller nuts (on most farms) certainly confirms its value in KZN plantings. The factories are reporting that TK is similar to last year at just over 40% with SK slightly up from last year. USK has improved but early and late stinkbug damage is still an issue. Discolouration seems to be higher than previous years. Harvesting is finished in many (warmer) areas. Flowering is well underway in early season cultivars. Phytophthora is an ongoing concern especially with the lack of registered products. Some farmers are reporting Blossom Blight presence on earlier flowering 788. Maritha Schoeman will be visiting KZN in August to undertake the final planning for the husk rot trial at the South Coast. All KZN nurseries have been audited for this year. A new nursery has been accredited Cultivating Solutions (in Kearsney). Membership numbers continue to increase in KZN with numerous calls and requests for farm visits from new farmers. A second Mac 101 Course is planned for later this year due to popular demand. The SAMAC roadshows in mid-july were fairly well attended with mixed reactions to the proposed GAP accreditation. Young tree quality is still variable and an ongoing issue especially as many growers continue to purchase trees from non-accredited nurseries. Page 5 of 11

6 D. In Mpumalanga - Barberton omgewing het ondergemiddelde reënval gehad behalwe in Mei wat bietjie meer reën geval het as die lang termyn gemiddeld. Die druk op die water bronne bly steeds hoog, en die vlakke is op die oomblik baie laag. Burgerhall / Kiepersol omgewing het n goeie Mei maand gehad wat reën betref teenoor die lang termyn gemiddeld, maar oor die algemeen is dit nog baie droog agv die min reen die res van die seisoen. Van al die gebiede in Mpumalanga wat macadamias produseer het Nelspruit omgewing die laagste reënval gehad ten opsigte van volumes en gemeet teenoor lang termyn gemiddeldes. Na die oes het die produsente begin snoei, maar daar gaan meer aandag daaraan gegee moet word met baie boorde wat onbestuurbaar hoog word, en nie afgebring word na n praktiese hoogte waar die spuite kan bykom nie. Dit lyk of die oes die seisoen laer gaan wees as die vorige een. Die weersomstandighede het n groot rol gespeel in die algehele prentjie wat oes verlies en peste beinvloed het, alhoewel die kwaliteit van die neute nie te sleg lyk nie. Die tendens orals was egter dat die neute oor die algemeen kleiner was die seisoen en dat die doppe dikker was, dit kan seker toegeskryf word aan die bome wat onder stres was Alhoewel die stinkbesie druk laer was die seisoen het baie produsente laat stinkbesie skade ervaar, veral in die Nelspruit/Witrivier omgewing, wat weereens wys dat die laaste bespuitings voor oes nie heeltemal suksesvol of voldoende was nie. Daar is nog steeds insekte en eierpakkies in die boorde op die einde van die seisoen, nou dat meeste neute al af is, maar dit is maar die minimum. Die blaaspooitjie skade was noemenswaardig hoog in party gebiede soos Baberton en Brondal, met party produsente wat baie erg deurgeloop het, veral waar avokados saam met macadamias verbou word. Blaaspootjie skade op Avo s reg langs die macadamia boorde, al die nuwe groei op die aangrensende 816 boord is heeltemal opgevreet deur die insekte (Figuur). Page 6 of 11

7 Figuur 1 Blaaspootjie skade op Avo s reg langs die macadamia boorde. Al die nuwe groei op die aangrensende 816 boord is heeltemal opgevreet deur blaaspootjies. 3. Conclusion With excellent but only a few technical advisors the technical team is doing excellent work for Subtrop (including SAMAC growers and industry) under the guidance of the technical manager. This include amongst others: The technical team are responsible for all technical and production related articles in the Subtrop Journal, They do things that no other technical advisors or individuals can do on their own, for example, run organized Study Groups for their growers, work in a projects-based way by identifying area industry problems and address it in various ways: writing factsheets, do courses, get the experts involved in Study Groups to help solve the problem, put it up as a research priority for duscussion on the research committee (Mac 101 is such a project), and nursery audits, Visit farms/growers/packhouses/processors on request, Previously responsible for the Subtrop grower census (still now but in a different role), The technical advisors form part of the research committees, stinkbug committee, area committees, and other crop-specific committees, in order to make sure that there area needs/priorities are addressed, and in order to breach the gap between research and production (the farmer), Each technical advisor has a special responsibility with regards to technical aspects of Subtrop. They form part of the Subtrop Food Safety initiative, which include Globalgap, Chemicals and MRL s, Export & Local standards, HACCP, etc. Page 7 of 11

8 , the technical manager is responsible for managing Subtrop s technical staff and determining industry needs and priorities with an emphasis on technical matters, research coordination, communicating with research institutions (ARC, Hortgro, CRI, Private and most Universities) and researchers with regards to industry needs and research priorities, managing and form part of the following committees (research, stinkbug, post-harvest, chemical), responsible for the annual research yearbooks, and sits on the management committee of the Post-harvest Innovation fund (PHI), where he was succefull in acquiring R in post-harvest funding for the Avocado industry. Submissions for PHI funding were also done for SAMAC, SAMGA and SALGA but without success during this current PHI cycle due to a lack of funds. But PHI is funding both Bushbuckridge and Vhembe Agricultural Development Plan studies which will be of value to Subtrop commercial growers. These reports will be available free of charge to all Subtrop members. Gerhard is also a member of the Fruit Industry Value Chain Round Table Resources Working Group (FIVCRTWG), chaired by the Fresh Producers Exporters Forum (FPEF), which is a initiative of Fruit South Africa to address issues related to production, and phytosanitary issues for the fruit industries of South Africa. Official communications has been established with the Deciduous Fruit Industry (Hortgro Science the research and production arm of the stone and pome fruit industry), and the CRI (Citrus Research International), with the idea of sharing information, possible sharing of researchers and funding in order to do potential joint research projects of value to all. Currently, Gerhard and Hanna-let (technical assistant) is addressing the chemical as well as the urgent and very imortant phosphonate issues in Europe for Subtrop, where the EU is in a process of re-evaluating the use and MRL s of all agricultural products and phosphonate-containing products. Subtrop also forms part of the Hortgro and CRI focus group addressing these issues in a joint initiative. Important achievements and work in progress on the research front: Work is currently in progress on a Stinkbug factsheet/strategy which will be handed out to all SAMAC growers on the SAMAC Research Symposium on the 24th of August. The factsheet is the results of a stinkbug strategic meeting which was held with Prof Erik Holm (expert entomologist) as facilitator. This factsheet/strategic document will include information relating to: current knowledge, economic importance, life-cycle, seasonal occurrence, migration patterns and spatial distribution, cultivar susceptibility, Page 8 of 11

9 monitoring and scouting, host plants, chemical communication (pheromones), management strategies, chemical control, biological control, IPM recommendations, and the Way forward. A total of five (5) possible pheromone substances have been identified which the twospotted stinkbug react to, and these substances are currently being tested in the field. A Phosphonate factsheet has been completed and has been distributed to all. Subtrop forms part of the S.A. Fruit Industry Focus Group adressing the phosphonate issue in Europe. A Pruning factsheet as well as Iron-deficiency factsheet have been completed and will be distributed to all SAMAC growers soon. The WRC irrigation project in collaboration with SAMAC commenced in March 2016 and Gerhard already received the first two deliverables as agreed to in the project Terms of Reference (TOR). This project gave SAMAC access to R1.5 million from the WRC, with co-funding from SAMAC to the amount of R1 million over a period of five years. A Macadamia Best-Practise video and Macadamia 101 course material were produced. A very good relationship exists between Suptrop and the Office of the Registrar. Since June 2014 untill June 2016 SAMAC has made at least 15 urgent requests for registration of new or alternative products to the Registrar for use on Macadamias. These requests were made for Stinkbug, False Codling Moth, Thrips and Macadamia Nutborer. A Macadamia Critical list of chemicals was also submitted to the Registrar on the 13th of June The Registrar then circulated it to CropLife S.A. for distribution to all agricultural chemical companies. Loss due to stinkbug damage equals around R400 million per annum (see below calculation). SAMAC is currently spending R on stinkbug projects. IRAC funds the pyrethroid resistance project at a value of 6500 Euros (R at the time) with a possiblity of extending the project funding. SAMAC is spending not even 0.1% on a giant problem which could cost the industry (see costng below). As Prof Erik Holm said. do not use a pee-shooter to kill an elephant. They made such mistakes years ago with Citrus and it almost broke the industry. Prof Ballie Kotze (Emeritus Professor at UP) confirms that. Page 9 of 11

10 Annual stinkbug damage in S.A Macadamia (2015 benchmark figures): Aannames Inkomste koste per kg: R255/kg (oor alle style $15-$18 en wisselkoers van R15 = 1$) Industrie neute gekraak: ton DIS (werklik gekraak in die industrie is rondom ton DIS) Vroeë Stinkbesie skade gemeet: ton kern Laat Stinkbesie skade gemeet: ton kern Totale ekonomiese waarde van skade gegewe ton DIS: Vroeë Stinkbesie skade: R Laat Stinkbesie skade: R Totaal: R Totale ekonomiese waarde van skade gegewe ton DIS: Vroeë Stinkbesie skade: R Laat Stinkbesie skade: R Totaal: R Research recommendation: Although enough competent researchers are a problem we should not cut on stinkbug research. Other research can possibly be addressed by way of Best-Practises, trials, registrations etc. The Macadamia industry is growing by 1500 ha/annum, and stinkbug problems will escalate. Industry must invest more into stinkbug research and the Research Committee have to investigate this further. SUBTROP/SAMAC will work more on and give more factsheets out to growers as way of communicating technical and research progress, and practises to handle production/pest and disease problems in the future. Please see the next page for an update on the Macadamia Cultivar Evaluation trial. Quarterly research reports will be included in the November board folder. Page 10 of 11

11 Cultivar trial update (10th August 2016) The Barberton (Danroc), North Natal (UVS) and Eastern Cape (Ncera) sites are planted. There have been some tree losses at all three sites however, the replacement trees for these have already been grafted. Spaces were also left open at UVS and Ncera to accommodate some of the new cultivars from Australia that are currently being propagated. These have also been grafted. It should be possible to fill in most of the losses at these sites later this year. In terms of data collection, Dr Zelda Bijzet has developed methods for statistical analysis of multiple cultivar sites, and has determined that valid conclusions can be drawn using just three trees per site. As such, these losses and replacements should not have a significant effect on the final outcome of the trial. Most of the trees for the next two sites (Amorentia and the ARC-TSC at Nelspruit) have been grafted all of the rootstocks received in 2015 have now been used for this purpose. The remainder of the trees for these two sites will be grafted once the new batch of rootstocks from Amorentia have grown sufficiently for grafting. The first 1000 trees of this new batch were collected in July and a further 2000 are still on order. Unfortunately these trees are not yet of grafting size and will need to put on another flush before being ready for use. New budwood will have to be prepared to be ready once these rootstocks reach grafting size. Planting of the next two sites should take place during autumn 2017, subject to growth of the new rootstocks. This current round of grafting for Amorentia and Nelspruit has sufficient excess trees that there may be enough trees for a third new site. There is land available at the ARC-TSC in Levubu, but the cultivar committee should decide if these trees should be committed there or elsewhere. There was interest in an inland KZN site if a suitable one can be found, and several members have expressed an interest in trials at the newer areas being established in Pongola. Thus, there will be a total of five sites by the end of 2017 and possibly a sixth if the excess trees are sufficient for another. Several members of the cultivar committee visited the nursery in July (Barry Christie, Paul Clark and Ian Williams). It was determined that the small bag size of the supplied rootstocks may be holding back growth and a nutrient programme was devised to increase the growth rate of the new rootstocks, and improve the vigour of the trees already grafted. Progress was also made with the multiplication of the imported cultivars both those with and without PBR. Representatives of all of the non-pbr trees are in the ground at the ARC-TSC nursery for purposes of budwood production. An inspection indicated that there may be sufficient quantities for releasing of some budwood to interested nurseries/growers during the 2017 year. The PBR trees coming from David Bell in Australia are still problematical as there were very few left after most of them were planted at the UVS and Danroc sites. The process of bulking them up for budwood production will continue, but it will be a while before there are sufficient quantities to be trialled in all the growing regions. This Report has been compiled by and his Technical Team Page 11 of 11