November 2015 Update

Posted on November 09, 2015

Giant willow aphid is up and about in Palmerston North. Have you seen any in your district? Let us know.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council hosted ‘East Coast Hill Country Conference 2015’ in Hastings, 29-30 October. Well done Nathan Heath HBRC and your team. Hill country is still very important to the NZ economy. To quote Malcolm Todd (Horizons RC): "The most important thing (absolutely essential) is going around the farm with the farmer and then sitting down at the table and agreeing on a plan. I cannot stress this enough. Without visiting the farm and talking to the person there, you have no idea what the issues are, what to do about them or whether that can be achieved."
Tree planting on steep or eroding slopes and retirement of riparians and bush should remain the main techniques, but sediment traps and grazing management should have an increasing part to play.
The AGM of NZ Poplar & Willow Research Trust is on 19th November in Palmerston North.
El Nino promises to challenge some of our plantings this summer. Consider ways in which you can water those poles.
There was a lot of pole traffic this season to meet demand in the Whanganui district following the floods. Better to plant before than after!
Have you read the new booklet ‘Trees for the farm'? What do you think? Contact us.