HortPlus NZ Ltd HortPlus team Mike Barley, Andrew Hodson, Lesley Hodson-Kersey HortPlus team Mike Barley, Andrew Hodson, Lesley Hodson-Kersey Acknowledge late Dr Trevor Atkins Acknowledge late Dr Trevor Atkins Close links to Plant and Food Research via: Close links to Plant and Food Research via: –Dr Jim Walker –Nicola Park –Dr Brent Clothier –Dr Steven Green –Dr Rob Beresford –Dr Matthew Laurenson

Background on HortPlus Established in 1999 after Orchard 2000 Established in 1999 after Orchard 2000 Focusing on the horticultural sector in the Australasian market Focusing on the horticultural sector in the Australasian market Core activities include: Core activities include: – Pest and disease warnings – Decision support systems – Supply of hardware and software to markets internationally – Research and development – Agrichemical use recording and residue tracking – Geographical information systems – Web site design For more information visit or For more information visit or

Research and Development Done in conjunction with Plant and Food Research Done in conjunction with Plant and Food Research Current projects include: Current projects include: –Apple futures –Grape futures –Crop Irrigation software development –Pesticide risk reduction A list of publications can be found at A list of publications can be found at

Feel free to have a look at these sites

The Weather Station Network Currently there are 68 stations in NZ to chose from and 450 in Australia Currently there are 68 stations in NZ to chose from and 450 in Australia The stations cover all the major horticultural areas. The stations cover all the major horticultural areas. The NZ stations are owned by HortPlus, Plant and Food Research, NIWA and private growers The NZ stations are owned by HortPlus, Plant and Food Research, NIWA and private growers The Australian stations are operated by the Bureau of Meteorology The Australian stations are operated by the Bureau of Meteorology Most are called every hour Most are called every hour

Weather forecasts Done in conjunction with the MetService Done in conjunction with the MetService 35 forecasts are generated 7 times per day 35 forecasts are generated 7 times per day Forecast are done for every hour for 2 ½ days Forecast are done for every hour for 2 ½ days They include temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and wind direction They include temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and wind direction The forecast are compared each day with actual weather conditions to improve accuracy The forecast are compared each day with actual weather conditions to improve accuracy

Contributions to other web sites –Daily weather data –Decision support tools –Weather forecasts –Pest and disease warnings –Agrichemical use –GIS market access tools –Daily weather data

Disease warnings Via MetWatch software, MetWatch Online web access, or fax Via MetWatch software, MetWatch Online web access, or fax Many diseases covered including: Many diseases covered including: –Apple: ◦Black Spot (Apple scab) ◦Black Spot (Apple scab) ◦Asco Spore ◦Asco Spore ◦Fire Blight ◦Fire Blight –Grape: ◦Botrytis (Bacchus) ◦Botrytis (Bacchus) ◦Botrytis (Broome) ◦Botrytis (Broome) ◦Downy Mildew ◦Downy Mildew ◦Powdery Mildew ◦Powdery Mildew –Peach: ◦Brown Rot ◦Brown Rot ◦Leaf Rust ◦Leaf Rust –Field Crops: ◦Onion Downy Mildew ◦Onion Downy Mildew ◦Potato Early and Late Blight ◦Potato Early and Late Blight –Other: ◦Generic wet weather disease ◦Generic wet weather disease

Metwatch Software

MetWatch Online

GIS Map of the NZ Weather Station Network

GIS Map of the Australian Weather Station Network in Victoria

GIS Showing Apple Orchards in the Taiwan Export Programme

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