Sep. 8, 2026 |
Location | Centralpac | 828 Luggate-Cromwell Road, Mount Pisa
Part 1 | 1pm | Spray training (with lunch beforehand)
Open to operators and managers of cherry and stonefruit orchards
David Manktelow – New Zealand’s leading expert on spray technology – will lead a session targeted at spray operators and orchard managers responsible for planning and executing crop protection sprays. He has been sponsored by the A Lighter Touch programme and will be joined by Summerfruit NZ Technical Manager, Sean Gresham.
Special guest Jack Wilson - of AgFirst - will also present findings from the Future Orchards II orchard cost analysis.
The main topics covered will be:
· Nozzle selection and droplet size – balancing drift risk and coverage
· Adjusting for row spacing and tree height with different sprayers and controllers
· Sprayer maintenance and troubleshooting
· Adjuvants, surfactants and chemical loading
· Evaluating spray coverage – water sensitive papers, visual assessment, drift avoidance
· Matching volume to target – dormant vs flowering vs pre harvest | PGRs and nutrients vs systemic fungicides vs protectants
· Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safety, and accurate filling.
Please RSVP using this form. Please be sure to include your mobile phone number as it will be used as an identifier for the professional development credits given for participants’ certificate renewal.
Lunch will be provided by A Lighter Touch before the event, so please advise of any dietary requirements, too.
Part 2 | 3.15pm | Season update
Open to all, including packhouse operators, exporters and marketers
Edwin Spencer and Sean Gresham will update growers, packers, and exporters on the happenings at summerfruit NZ and plans for the coming season.
Edwin heads up the biosecurity and domestic policy portfolio for Summerfruit NZ, representing our interests in keeping our borders secure and working on response plans in case of pest or disease incursions that threaten our industry. He also maintains the Summerfruit NZ Portal and export registrations.
Sean started as Technical Manager in February this year, looking after the R&D portfolio and technical extension for crop protection, crop management, and the environment. A key aspect of his role is to advocate for increased access to crop protection products. Sean also oversees updates to the export spray programme and residue assurance scheme.
In this session Edwin and Sean will provide updates on:
· Current and future challenges with biosecurity
· The 2026-27 domestic summerfruit promotion campaign
· Policy and advocacy.
Technical Update
· Agchem assurance scheme (random testing) findings and updates for season
· 2026-27 R&D priorities and projects
· New or upcoming additions to crop protection programme.
Export
· Updates to export compliance – phytosanitary and agrichemicals
· Future market access opportunities
· Export registration process & deadlines.
Please RSVP using this form. This session will finish at 4.30pm.