Massey high-tech plant course

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 21, 21 October 1986, Page 11

Massey high-tech plant course

Growers could reduce ] costs and increase profitability immediately if they knew all the information and technology available today in New Zealand. Keeping them up to date with recent developments is the thinking behind a plant health short course being held at Massey University from 24-26 November this year. Designed specially for technical representatives from exporters and companies servicing the horticultural industry in New Zealand, the course - "Plant Health: Some New Perspectives" -

will provide an update of the current status of pest and disease control in horticulture as well as indicate new directions that research is taking. "Growers should be taking advantage of new plant health developments", course co-ordinator Dr Peter Fenemore says. "Plant health determines the quality of horticultural products for both local and export markets, and the growers' role in manipulating and managing plants before harvest is^ust as important as post-harvest treatments." A team of visiting speakers, including internation-

ally recognised John Harden, Head of the Plant Protection Department, Queensland Agricultural College. will contribute to the three day course as well as NZAEI, MAF, DSIR, and University personnel. "The aim", according to Dr Fenmore, "is to provide a better technical background for exporters and persons advising growers 011 aspects of plant health, including disease diagnosis, integrated control, and pesticide regulation and application". He singles out three topics on the programme likely to be of special interest: • Plant quarantine for

exports - the steps needed to meet plant health requirements of countries importing New Zealand produce, including major markets suchasJapan. • High health plants - how these totally disease-free plants can be produced and maintained, and the benefits. • Integrated pest management - where we are at in New Zealand in integrating • chemical and biological controls. Further details of the course are available from Dr Peter Fenemore, Department of Horticulture and Plant Health, Massey University.