10 Oct 2012

Kiwifruit vine disease control zone widens at Franklin

9:07 am on 10 October 2012

Kiwifruit Vine Health has had to extend the PSA control zone in the Franklin district after finding the vine-killing disease on another orchard.

It has received a positive test result for the vine canker PSA-V on an orchard block near Clevedon.

The organisation says the orchard is outside the existing controlled area near Pukukohe and brings the total number of infected orchards in the Franklin region to ten.

It has established a new zone with an 8km radius from the infected orchard, which includes 12 kiwifruit orchards in the Clevedon and Papakura areas.

Growers are being advised to monitor orchards and carry out preventive measures such as spraying and movement restrictions.

Meanwhile, Kiwifruit Vine Health's chief executive says a national pest management plan for PSA will be handed to the Minister for Primary Industries David Carter on Wednesday afternoon.

Dr O'Neil says he believes the plan is in line with the requirements of the Biosecurity Act but it needs to be assessed by the Government before the Minister can give full approval.

Growers are supporting the pest management plan, and Dr O'Neil expects it will be about three months before the plan can come into law after Cabinet approval.