Services

Agronomy Training

Understanding Agronomy in the 21st Century! If required, Inta-Ag are happy to run half day in-house sessions for growers that covers the basic principles around the following:

• Cultivation
• Nutrition
• Fungicides
• Herbicides
• Insecticides
• Adjuvants

The idea around these half days, is to give employees involved with crop production a better understanding why these applications and actions are required to maximise yield and quality with crop production. Inta-Ag’s team has several years of combined knowledge as well as specialising in their own areas of expertise. All members of the team discuss different subjects in short sharp sessions. If you would like to find out more information, please enquire with your local Inta-Ag representative and we would be happy to put a package deal together for you.

Psyllid trapping

The tomato/potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli: TPP) is native to North America and was first detected in New Zealand in 2006. The pest primarily attacks plants in the potato and tomato family but can also be found feeding on some species of the kumara and bindweed family.

Both the adult and nymphal life stages of TPP cause damage to the host plants by feeding on the leaves, resulting in a condition known as ‘psyllid yellows’. TPP transmits the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which is thought to be the causative agent of ‘zebra chip’ in potato tubers and stunted growth in fruit and leaves in tomatoes, capsicums and tamarillos. This transmission not only reduces crop yield and affects the quality of the fruit but ultimately also leads to the decline and death of the infected plant.

Although psyllids are active throughout the year, we begin trapping with five traps per field around November or December and finish in either February or March the following year. Sticky traps are replaced weekly on a Monday with results emailed to growers that same week, firstly for psyllid numbers and then again for CLso results when they become available. These results allow us to plan our spray programme based on the scientific data, if the psyllids are ‘hot’or çold’ and how many are there. This also allows us the opportunity to vary our spray programme based on the risk of contracting Zebra chip or just yield loss due to feeding. If you’d like further information on psyllid testing, just contact one of our friendly Inta-Ag representatives.

Tuber Moth Trapping

The damage to tubers by the potato tuber moth is an issue for potato growers that are mainly situated in the North Island, but they can be found elsewhere in climates with warmer temperatures.

In New Zealand, adult moths and larvae are active from October onwards and the dry summer period in the new year is when the most damage can occur. Crops can be completely destroyed by high infestations early in the season where the larvae move into the soil and mine the tubers, resulting in both unsaleable product and devastating yield losses.

To help combat this, we set up tuber moth traps with pheromone, designed to attract the adult male. These are collected weekly and replaced with a new trap in the field. The moths are then counted on the collected traps, thereby giving us an indication of the number present and the best course of action to control the population. If you’d like further information on potato tuber moth trapping, just contact one of our friendly Inta-Ag representatives.

Soil Sampling

Soil sampling is crucial to optimum nutritional soil value, and regular sampling ensures chemical, physical and biological aspects are maintained. All soil samples can be assessed for requirements and a detailed recommendation can be given.

We can also do water and residue testing as required - for prices and further information on how we can help you with the above, just contact one of our friendly Inta-Ag sales representatives.

GAP audits

The NZ Gap accreditation programme was established over 20 years ago and provides assurance for the safe and sustainable production of fruit and vegetables in New Zealand.

Our Compliance and Resource Manager Lyn Larsen specialises in guidance throughout the auditing proceedings and the audit process.

Lyn has ten years’ experience with Health & Safety and compliance work, and her goal is to work alongside the grower to create a paperwork trail for each individual farm. Lyn will guide you in the outlines of policies and procedures to meet the GAP standards, verifications, and auditing requirements.

If you’d like help with your compliance, please give Lyn a call and she would be happy to assist.

Drone Technology

The use of drone technology can save time by giving growers and ourselves an overall snap shot of larger crops and from that, what recommendations may be required based on what we see.

We can also identify problems in paddocks to help resolve future issues.

For more information, just ask one of our friendly Inta-Ag representatives.