April 2016 Update

Posted on March 25, 2016

Giant willow aphid is peaking. Many basket willow growers are using a contact insecticide to kill the pest, with good effect. This is a satisfactory approach for solitary trees too, in home gardens and school playgrounds.
The Hill Country Symposium, organized by the New Zealand Grassland Association will take place from 12th April to the 13th April 2016 in Rotorua, New Zealand. The conference will cover areas like Hill country soils & nutrients.
The next meeting of NZ Poplar & Willow Research Trust is on 26th May in Palmerston North.
How have those new poles survived the summer? We like to hear.
It is time to order your poles for this winter. Look for nurseries supplying to your area.
Projects running this month: excavation of root system of large pollarded poplars to see what effect pollarding has on root development. A large team of Massey post-grads are helping the scientists with the task during university holidays.
A questionnaire is being circulated to farmers asking for their views on ‘Trees on Farms’. If you want to take part and contribute to the discussion e-mail Eva van Dijk at Eva.vanDijk@plantandfood.co.nz for a questionnaire. It takes ~20 minutes to complete.
At last the rain is falling in the regions; rather too much in some regions. Poplars and willows are doing their bit holding those stopbanks, trapping sediment and reducing flow
Have you read our new corporate brochure? What do you think? Contact us at ian.mcivor@plantandfood.co.nz