A win-win in Bethlehem
The Wormtech Report No. 7         

31 October 2008 - We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Rob Barnett yesterday - a delightful guy and a pleasure to do business with, who was only too happy to share his story with us just a couple of years ago.  Our sincere condolences go to Gina and the family.

Rob Barnett  took over the family orchard in 1990 after studying horticulture at Massey, and last season for the first time decided to use Wormtech's new Hi-Plan Programme of ground probe injection and sprays.

“I decided to go for Kiwstart, and believed that Wormtech Hi-Plan would be a major factor in achieving that” said Rob.  “We made it with flying colours, and the Hi-Plan costs have been recovered and then some.  On our best block, we made week 13 and taste category ‘Y’, with another half of the orchard making week 14 and category ‘T’.  At the close of packing we have gone from 7500 trays/Ha, size 34.8 for the whole orchard last year, to 8500 trays/Ha, size 31.6 this year.  That’s much better than we have ever had.

“For us it is a philosophy thing.  We believe that if you have an advantageous location, you should do all you can to maximize that advantage.  As well as Wormtech Hi-Plan, we Hi-Caned on 4 August, used 10 hives per canopy hectare, supplementary pollination, did bud and flower thinning and fruit grooming, and cane and trunk girdling.  We used a combination of low and high vigour pruning according to the wood in each block, and the low vigour came in first.
 

Rob and Gina Barnett

Wormtech Hi-Plan is a combination of a winter injection of 100 litres per hectare of Wormtech Ground by Ground Probe Aerators, and a series of Wormtech Ground and Wormtech Canopy sprays from late winter through to mid-summer.  By using the programme on the whole orchard, the grower obtains a $400/ha reduction in the combined cost of the treatments.

 “This season’s result tells me that the vines could have delivered more, so we’ll be following the same regime but loading them up more heavily this season to get a higher OGR. 
 
“As well as immediate returns, we have boosted soil and plant health.  We are working towards eliminating chemical sprays, and both the Wormtech products and the aeration help against sclerotinia , phytothera and armillaria.”

 “Every year there are new products making new promises, but you can’t simply use them all and get size 18’s!  You are better off with something delivering multiple benefits” concludes Rob.  “Wormtech Hi-Plan is a no brainer for us – if you are getting a $60-70,000 bonus you don’t change anything!”