The Ministry for Primary Industries says kiwifruit growers whose orchards are infected with the PSA vine disease can expect incomes to drop by a third this season.
The ministry has issued an analysis of kiwifruit production and profitability.
The analysis is based on a model of a typical Bay of Plenty orchard and information gathered from a sample of growers and post harvest operators.
It found that PSA, which was first identified near Te Puke in November 2010, had little impact on the yield of the 2011 crop.
In fact, it was a record harvest and the gross profit per hectare of the model orchard rose 21% to $66,000.
However, the disease significantly reduced this year's income, due to significant areas of kiwifruit vines being cut out.
The MPI analysis expects a 33% drop in income to $44,000 per hectare.
