SPEAKERS AND FIELD TRIP VENUES
CENTRAL OTAGO A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
NEW ZEALAND TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
2008
Alex Huffadine
Principal Lecturer -
Otago Polytechnic - 20yrs
BSc (Hons), Dip Hort,
Dip Tchg
Alex is a Principal Lecturer with Otago Polytechnic and is head of the Natural Resources group. His main role is overseeing all of the Natural Resources programmes which include: horticulture, viticulture, stonemasonry, turf management, short programmes, consultancy, apprentices and some small amounts of R&D. He also oversees the 11 hectare practical training facility.
In terms of his teaching Alex specialises in crop production, irrigation, climate and pests/diseases. He is a Growsafe trainer. Alex has been specialising in flexible delivery development over the past year, aiming to have most of the programme materials available on-line, and in other forms to suit learners all over NZ and overseas.
On a personal level Alex is an export cherry grower and has high country farming interests.
He will make two presentations to Conference. The first will set the scene with an overview of horticulture in Central Otago – from the “old gold” to the “new gold”.
The second session will look at the GrowOtago project which has produced detailed climate and soil maps and related these factors to possible crops. He will also look at interactively a range of web sites focusing on “Trees Crops and Technology”.
Wayne King
Wayne is a Lecturer in Horticulture at The Central Otago Campus of the Otago Polytechnic. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies from Massey University and a National Certificate in Adult Education from Otago Polytechnic.
Wayne specialises in pest and disease management and agrichemical application, he is a registered spray calibrator, a Growsafe trainer and a Test Certifier under the H.S.N.O. Act.
His background is over 35 years in horticultural production of pip and stone fruit as well as working for seven years as a pest management consultant for Wards Horticulture and Pyne Gould Guinness. He has specific interests in integrated fruit production and organics.
He will update Conference on the many regulatory and voluntary changes taking place in the use of chemicals on our properties.
Mark Christenson – Apple Cancer Prevention Research
Mark is from the Central Districts Branch was the 2006 recipient of the Dr Don McKenzie Award for his research into the anti-cancer properties of New Zealand apple varieties. He will provide an update on the ongoing research that now focuses on the anti-proliferation effectiveness against cancer of the Monty’s Surprise apple variety. Work on this variety now involves collaborations in New Zealand, Australia and France.
He will also discuss research into heirloom tomato varieties, plus the chemical analysis of plums, including Damsons, Greengages and Prunes. An update will also be given on progress to import and study a desert plant from Texas to delay the onset of Huntington’s Disease, and for its early stage treatment.
Bruce Monaghan - Otago Regional Council
Managing water at the catchment and property level with reference to Growotago soils information.
Catchment water availability now and in the future and water efficiency at the property level, with reference to soil types and available water capacity.
Knowledge of soil types and available water capacity from the growotago database is needed for both allocation of water throughout the catchment via resource consents and efficient use (on site management) of water at the property level.
Robin Dicey
Born
in; went to school in; attended university in South Africa.
Studied grape growing
and winemaking at Stellenbosch, went on to see how it was done in
Australia and the US.
Took over the family
farm in '68. 125 ha grapes: table, wine and cocktail. Also 100 ha
pears.
Emigrated to NZ in '77.
Worked for Corbans north of Gisborne.
Grew kiwifruit at
Katikati for 12 years. Also helped start Morton Estate during this
period.
Saw the light and moved
south to Central Otago early '90's.
Planted own vineyard at
Bannockburn in '92.
Gave a few courses in
viticulture at the local Polytech.
Helped start Mt
Difficulty in '98.
Now joined by son Matt
- Mt Difficulty GM; and son James who is a director of Grape Vision -
our company specialising in vineyard development and management.
Just starting a new
vineyard - to be called Swansong - on a steep sidling. Restoring
a 1960 Dexta to handle the work on this!
He will discuss the development of viticulture in Central Otago.
Bruce McCorkindale
Bruce McCorkindale graduated fom Lincoln and worked briefly in the fertiliser and chemical industries before returning to the family farm in South Otago. While retaining this property, Bruce is now also a consultant with Agriculture NZ. In the last 10 years he has been involved with gevuina, chestnut and hazelnut plantings in an area which has summer moisture.
This paper will look at his experiences of growing these trees in South Otago, changes in management and future plans and potential.
Field Trip #1 Saturday
Richard
McKenzie - NIWA
NIWA’s
atmospheric research site at Lauder is one of five primary
charter sites for the International
Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change
(NDSC).
Initially this network was set up to investigate long-term changes in the atmosphere resulting from increases in ozone-depleting chemicals. The scope has been broadened and the measurements available now include quantities that are relevant to broader issues of climate change, such as global warming. Consequently, there is a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment at Lauder, much of which is operated with international partners, providing ongoing data on a wide range of atmospheric constituents and radiation quantities.
Lauder data are also
archived in the World
Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre
(WOUDC) and in the Baseline
Surface Radiation Network
(BSRN). NIWA UV spectrometers are available
commercially.
Field Trip #2 Saturday
Jolyon Manning - JOLENDALE PARK
New Zealand’s only semi-arid woodland reserve.
This year the worldwide community is as never before very much pre-occupied with ‘global warming’ climate change and ‘end of oil’. This is an important phase for ‘tree croppers’. Once again we will most warmly welcome delegates on a field day outing that will include Jolendale Park.
This is the sole New Zealand ‘semi-arid woodland reserve’ now permanently protected by QEII National Trust covenant. I look forward to this unique opportunity to share some of these experiences gained over the past 48 years in Central Otago. We look forward to welcoming delegates to next year's conference and trust that our improved tracking, steadily maturing array of trees, and quiet reflection on the passing decades and what might lay ahead of us will make a useful contribution.
Field Trip #1 AND #2 Saturday
Richard Flatman - REDBANK
Now
home to Two
Paddocks, three
vineyards are located in Central Otago on the South Island of New
Zealand.
From
this golden countryside, where old trails still wind through historic
gold mines and ice blue lakes nestle below rugged mountains, comes
some of the world's best Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir that will rival the
great Pinot Noirs of Burgundy. It's the region's continental climate
with its hot dry summers, cool autumns, and cold winters that
provides the perfect environment to nurture the perfect grape. Add to
that warm days and cool nights for colour and stability and the wine
that results is nothing less than excellence.
Formerly the site of New Zealand’s Crop and Food CRI there are still signs of the past with numerous crops grown including various stone and pipfruit varieties, herbs and a huge organic – compost operation.
Field Trips #3 Sunday
Steve Clarke - OLIVES
Cairnmuir Olives' grove is nestled between the foothills of the Cairnmuir Mountains and the Kawarau Arm of Lake Dunstan in the Cromwell basin in Central Otago. The north facing site ensures maximum sunshine to develop and ripen the fruit while the open site, the gentle slope and the proximity to the lake reduces the risk of frosts that might damage the ripening fruit.
The grove, established in 1999 is planted in three of the varieties that have made Tuscan olive oil famous, namely Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino. The trees were planted on a spacing of 6 metres between rows and 5 metres between trees. The total area planted is approximately 3 ha with a total of 990 trees. With an average annual rainfall of only 390 mm, irrigation is required to achieve a commercial crop. Irrigation is provided from an on-site bore via a single micro jet sprinkler per tree.
With the very cold winters, pests and diseases cannot over-winter, which eliminates the need for fungal and insecticide sprays.
Compared with the rest of New Zealand flowering is very late, typically between the first week in December and the first week in January. This leads to a short growing season and with the risk of frost damage to the fruit, the olives are harvested relatively unripe. The olive harvest is typically from mid May through early July, depending on the season. The relatively unripe fruit in combination with the hot dry summers and the cool nights in autumn produces an oil that is uniquely Central Otago.
Otto and Valda Muller -WALNUTS
An 80 hectare development adjacent to the Kawerau Arm of Lake Dunstan. Research has been undertaken in relation to 20 different cultivars of North American and European walnuts and 20 hectares developed for nut production (dominantly walnut varieties - Vina, Hartley, Franquette, Tehama, Serr, Chirco; some almonds and a few chestnuts and hazel nuts.) All walnut trees are propagated on the property. Sustainable farming by organic principles.
To make the most of
available time the group will be split into two groups with the
following being discussed:
* Why Walnuts?
Nuts for Health and healthy market opportunities
* Fostering Soil
health
* Nursery and
farm operations for healthy trees - no spray, inorganic
fertilisers or insecticides used
* Health and
compliance costs
* Healthy
Finances? - keep the day job!
OTAGO POLYTECHNIC CROP CENTRE
Education and Research Resource.
The Otago Polytechnic campus specialises in horticulture, viticulture, stonemasonry, sports turf management, catering, computing and tourism. Its crop centre provides advisory services to horticulturalists / landowners on commercially-viable new crops, focusing on crops suitable for the Central Otago area and southern New Zealand.
Field Trip #4 Sunday
Alex Huffadine - Cherries
A bus journey around the Cromwell area looking at the progression of cherry orchards, many with there distinctive cherry nets of white and red.
J.R Webbs & Sons - Stonehurst Orchard - State Highway 6, Cromwell
A large 4th Generation family run pip and stonefruit orchard nestled on the banks of Lake Dunstan. A well established orchard with many old and modern used techniques. Fruit varieties nectarines, peaches, apricots and apples are among the vast array of well attended fruit trees throughout the orchard. A unique 4th Generation family business which will obviously stay in the family for decades to come.
Field Trip #3 and #4 Sunday
OTAGO POLYTECHNIC CROP CENTRE
Education and Research Resource.
The Otago Polytechnic campus specialises in horticulture, viticulture, stonemasonry, sports turf management, catering, computing and tourism. Its crop centre provides advisory services to horticulturalists / landowners on commercially-viable new crops, focusing on crops suitable for the Central Otago area and southern New Zealand.