CMS services
Crop monitoring programmes designed to industry best practice standards
The following monitoring programmes provided by CMS for the major horticultural crops grown in New Zealand are continually refined to correspond with specific industry best practice standards. Yet the programmes are also flexible and easily adapted to suit various production schedules, unique growing conditions and individual crop problems at any site. We are also happy to adapt one of the following programmes to suit smaller, less commonly grown crops.
Please click on one of the following crop types or services for more detailed information.
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Fruit sizing
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Property mapping
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AVOCADO MONITORING
In 1997 Fruitfed Supplies worked with the Avocado Industry Council to develop and test an integrated pest management (IPM) programme for avocados in 30 trial orchards. This programme has become known as AvoGreen™.
Today, Fruitfed Supplies’ avocado monitoring programme is an established and tested system that integrates the use of pest monitoring techniques together with knowledge of pest behaviour and biology to assist growers in the production of fruit to AvoGreen standards.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Contract packhouse monitoring
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
Monitoring details
The avocado monitoring programme is based on an intensive system whereby selected trees are observed throughout the season to determine pest pressure.
After an initial consultation with the grower, the area to be monitored is divided into sample blocks, no greater than 3ha each) and a map is produced, setting out the number and location of trees that are to be monitored. The crop is then monitored weekly, fortnightly or monthly from September to May. Please note winter monitoring is also available.
At each inspection, scouts primarily look for leafroller larvae, thrips, scale and six spotted mite, as well as for the presence of other pests and beneficial insects. Reports are prepared after each visit and growers are alerted to the breach of any thresholds so they can take necessary action.
The following table details some of the key pests we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Greenhouse thrips, leafroller, armoured scale, six spotted mite |
Minor insect pests
Fullers rose weevil, bronze beetle, green vegetable bug, mealy bug, passion vine hopper, noctuid moth egg rafts |
Beneficial insects
Lacewings, ladybirds, predator mites, Stethorus bifidus, spiders |
BRASSICA MONITORING
Cabbage - Broccoli - Cauliflower
Fruitfed Supplies’ brassica monitoring service was introduced in the late 1990s following the promotion of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme by Crop & Food Research designed to address the resistance of diamondback moth to insecticide control.
The aim of the brassica IPM programme is to use a combination of control strategies to minimise insect pest infestations, and a key component is crop monitoring. Regular crop monitoring detects if and when control measures are needed, and therefore when they are most likely to be effective.
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Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect and disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
Monitoring details
An initial consultation with the grower determines the appropriate areas for monitoring and identifies sampling zones to provide a representative sample of the block.
Our professionally-trained scouts visit the sample blocks on a regular basis throughout the season (or as required) to carefully inspect the crop for key pests and diseases. A report of the findings is provided after each visit, detailing observations made by the scout, which is invaluable as a management tool for accurately targeting control measures or identifying when no action is required.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
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Key insect pests
Cabbage grey aphid, diamondback moth, green peach aphid, white butterfly |
Minor insect pests
Onion thrips, soyabean looper, tomato fruitworm |
Key diseases and viruses
Botrytis, clubroot, ringspot, sclerotinia |
Beneficial insects
Cotesia glomerata, C. rubecula and Pteromalus puparum (white butterfly parasitoids), Diadegma semiclausum and D. collaris (DBM parasitoids), brown lacewing (aphid predator) |
CITRUS MONITORING
First developed in 2000, Fruitfed Supplies’ aim was to ensure monitoring of citrus crops would allow growers to target control measures at times when most needed and most effective. The programme is not threshold-based, but does have scope to improve the timing of insecticide and fungicide applications to enhance pest and disease control.
To extend the effectiveness of the citrus crop monitoring programme, Fruitfed Supplies has worked with NZ Citrus Growers Incorporated (NZCGI) and HortResearch, with support from the Sustainable Farming Fund, to further our understanding of the major pests and diseases that affect citrus.
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Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Pre-harvest fruit defect assessment
Monitoring details
The citrus monitoring programme has been designed to account for the biology and behaviour of key pests.
Early in the season, monitoring is carried out weekly from fruitset to ensure outbreaks of pests are avoided, especially Kelly’s citrus thrips. As the season progresses and pest biology determines that monitoring frequency can be extended, scouting moves out to fortnightly visits (or as you see fit), usually from January or February depending on pest pressure.
At each visit, scouts inspect flowers, fruit and branches for the presence of pests and beneficial insects. If required, samples will be taken for microscopic examination to determine the identity of pests. Field reports are prepared after each visit to alert pest pressure and left on the property. A summary report is furnished each month.
The following table details some of the key pests we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
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Key insect pests
Armoured scale, greenhouse thrips, Kelly’s citrus thrips, brown soft scale, cottony cushion scale, citrus red mite |
Minor insect pests
Black citrus aphid, Fullers rose weevil, katydid, mealy bug |
Beneficial insects
Lacewings, ladybirds, parasitic wasp, whirlygig mite |
GRAPE MONITORING
Following the principles of integrated pest management (IPM), Fruitfed Supplies’ grape monitoring service also works within the guidelines of the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) scheme. It provides growers with a valuable management tool to improve crop quality while imparting minimal impact on the environment.
The programme integrates the use of insect and disease monitoring together with the knowledge of pest biology and behaviour to alert growers to any potential problems before they get out of hand.
Services available
- Vineyard mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspections)
- Insect and disease identification
- Biological assessments
Monitoring details
Fruitfed Supplies’ monitoring schedule has been developed to complement your pest and disease management programme with seven rounds (visits) timed to coincide with key growth stages of the crop.
The programme can be adjusted to suit your requirements with any combination of rounds available or as a one-off service (dial-a-monitor).
At each round, scouts visually inspect a representative sample of the vineyard for the presence of particular insects and disease that are known to be most relevant at that time. Information on beneficial insect activity, growth stage and any other observation (e.g. vine nutritional disorders or crop damage) are also recorded.
Reports are prepared after each round and provide growers with accurate, up-to-date information about the identity, location and severity of insects and diseases in their vineyard. Using this information, growers can formulate appropriate and effective control measures.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Leafroller, mealy bug |
Minor insect pests
Erinose mite |
Key diseases / viruses
Botrytis, downy mildew, powdery mildew |
Beneficial insects
Leafroller predators, bullet wasp (Goniozus jacintai), Tasman wasp (Dolichogenida tasmanica), tachinid fly (Trigonospila brevifacies), mealy bug predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri |
LETTUCE MONITORING
Fruitfed Supplies’ lettuce monitoring programme was developed in 2001 by our crop monitoring service and technical team in response to growers’ needs for a more integrated approach to pest management. Regular monitoring of the crop alerts growers to any potentially serious pest problems before they occur and provides valuable information on which pest control strategies to take.
The lettuce monitoring programme continues to be developed to provide scouts with improved monitoring and identification techniques and growers with more information on the identity, location and severity of key pests and diseases in their crops.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect and disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
Monitoring details
After consulting with the grower and identifying sample blocks, our monitoring procedure involves inspecting a minimum of 100 plants per block for pests from September to April (or longer, as required).
At each inspection, our scouts check for the presence of key pests such as looper caterpillars (and their eggs), thrips, aphids and slugs as well as diseases and beneficial insect activity.
A detailed report of scout observations is provided to the grower following each visit.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Aphids, looper caterpillar, slugs, thrips |
Key diseases / viruses
Downy mildew, leaf spot, ringspot, sclerotinia |
ONION MONITORING
Fruitfed Supplies’ onion monitoring programme operates according to the New Zealand Onion Exporters’ Association Resistance Management strategy.
Research into integrated pest management (IPM) practices for onion crops was driven mainly by problems associated with onion thrips’ resistance to insecticide in certain regions of New Zealand. To assist growers with managing this resistance, Fruitfed Supplies introduced an onion monitoring service for growers to provide them with more timely information on thrips pressure as an additional tool to use when deciding on appropriate control measures.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect and disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
Monitoring details
Fruitfed Supplies’ onion monitoring programme generally begins in October and ends at top fall, involving an average of five to six rounds per season.
Blocks are assessed weekly, using the recommended sampling procedure from the resistance management strategy programme and detailed reports of thrips counts, disease and any other relevant information the grower requires documented in a detailed report provided after each visit.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Onion thrips |
Minor insect pests
Nematodes, onion maggot |
Key diseases / viruses
Botrytis, downy mildew, white rot |
PHEROMONE TRAP MONITORING
Pheromone trap monitoring is an essential integrated pest management (IPM) tool for the management of moth pests. Monitoring of moth flights within the crop helps determine which species are present and when they are flying, so that timing of control measures can be targeted to ensure maximum effectiveness while avoiding the unnecessary use of chemicals.
HortResearch has developed pheromone lures for many of the key moth pests of pipfruit, summerfruit, vegetable and other important horticultural crops in New Zealand. They are continually introducing new lures for other important moth species and already programmes such as NZ Pipfruit’s IFP and NZ Summerfruit’s SummerGreen require the use of pheromone trap monitoring and action thresholds to justify chemical control measures.
Fruitfed Supplies’ pheromone trap monitoring service offers growers a hassle-free, reliable way to monitor moth pests within their blocks. Our service involves full management of traps throughout the season. Our qualified staff will ensure correct placement of traps, and replenishment of bases and caps in accordance with trap monitoring guidelines. Weekly monitoring and records of catch data are provided to growers and serve as valuable information for determining optimal spray timing.
Pests and their monitoring stages
- Codling moth trapping starts early October through to harvest
- Leafroller trapping starts early December through to harvest
- Oriental fruit moth trapping starts late September through to harvest
- Potato tuber moth trapping starts late November through to harvest
Pheromone trap monitoring for other crops may be available if required. Please discuss with your local CMS co-ordinator.
PIPFRUIT MONITORING
Sustainable production is at the core of New Zealand’s pipfruit industry. In response to market demands, ENZA and more recently NZ Pipfruit, in association with HortResearch, developed an integrated fruit production (IFP) system that encompasses all aspects of pipfruit production.
Fruitfed Supplies’ pipfruit monitoring programme works to the guidelines set out in NZ Pipfruit’s IFP system to ensure growers comply with the exacting requirements.
Services available
- Orchard mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspections)
- Insect and disease identification
- Pheromone trap monitoring (see separate section for more detail)
- Harvest assessments
Monitoring details
Fruitfed Supplies’ pipfruit monitoring programme utilises NZ Pipfruit’s IFP procedures along with the knowledge of pest biology to establish its monitoring schedule.
To ensure coverage of all key pests a full programme consists of six rounds timed to coincide with critical stages of pest and crop development. The programme can be readily adjusted to suit individual requirements and a one-off service (dial-a-monitor) is also available for ‘spot’ checks.
At each round, scouts inspect each variety in the sample area and record the location, identity, and severity of pests and the presence of any beneficial insects. A report detailing scouts’ observations is prepared after each visit to provide growers with accurate, up to date information on which they can base their management decisions.
Harvest assessments are also available by request. Harvest assessments are an important part of the IFP programme as many of the thresholds are based on pest populations on harvested fruit. Field assessment is preferred to pack-house data, as the packing process can remove or distort pest presence.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Apple leafcurling midge, codling moth, European red mite, leafroller, pear leafcurling midge, scale, two spotted mite, woolly apple aphid |
Minor insect pests
Froggatt’s apple leaf hopper, Fuller’s rose weevil, mealy bug, noctuid moth, pear slug |
Key diseases / viruses
Black spot, powdery mildew |
Beneficial insects
Aphelinus mali (WAA parasite), Phytoseiulus persimilis (TSM predator), Platygaster demades (ALCM egg parasite), Stethorus spp., Typhlodromus pyri |
ORGANIC PIPFRUIT MONITORING
Monitoring is a core requirement for the successful implementation of organic pipfruit production. Organic growers rely on the balance between pest and beneficial insects being maintained.
Fruitfed Supplies’ organic pipfruit monitoring service provides growers with valuable information on pest identity, location and severity, and any beneficial insect activity in their blocks. This enables strategies for pest control to be checked and adjusted if necessary, in a timely manner.
While pest identification and control is our primary focus, we will also alert growers to the presence of disease. Our trained staff can identify the early stages of pest and disease development, enabling prompt action to be taken. Ideally, pests are controlled before they cause much visible damage to your crop.
Once monitoring is completed, one of our representatives will prepare a report detailing all findings and recommending a pest management strategy to suit your property. Follow-up support is also available from our accredited Bio-Gro advisor.
In addition to this, you will be invited to attend relevant grower education programmes and discussion groups, and be offered regular updates concerning seasonal issues.
Monitoring details
Organic pipfruit monitoring follows the same monitoring protocols as conventional pipfruit. A full programme of six rounds can be followed or a reduced programme of rounds one, two and four (or any other combination to suit) is also available.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect Pests
Apple leafcurling midge, codling moth, European red mite, leafroller, pear leafcurling midge, scale, two spotted mite, woolly apple aphid |
Minor insect pests
Froggatt’s apple leaf hopper, Fuller’s rose weevil, mealy bug, noctuid moth, pear slug |
Key diseases / viruses
Black spot, powdery mildew |
Beneficial insects
Aphelinus mali (WAA parasite), Phytoseiulus persimilis (TSM predator), Platygaster demades (ALCM egg parasite), Stethorus spp., Typhlodromus pyri |
POTATO MONITORING
Fruitfed Supplies’ potato monitoring service has been operating for a number of years and is continually reviewed and modified to ensure it continues to meet growers’ needs as they adopt new or revised management strategies for more effective pest control and a reduction in chemical use.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect and disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
- Pheromone trapping
Monitoring details
Crops are monitored on a weekly basis from emergence to senescence. At each sample, scouts carefully check for a number of key pests. Pheromone traps are also used as an additional tool to monitor potato tuber moth activity within the crop.
After each visit a report is supplied to the grower detailing the scouts’ observations.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Aphids, greasy cutworm, potato tuber moth, vegetable weevil |
Key diseases / viruses
Blackleg, Botrytis, early blight, late blight, Rhizoctonia canker, Sclerotinia, viruses
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STONEFRUIT MONITORING
An expanding focus on export markets and a desire to produce more environmentally sustainable crops lead Summerfruit New Zealand to develop an Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) programme called SummerGreen.
Fruitfed Supplies’ stonefruit monitoring service follows the guidelines set out in the SummerGreen programme to provide growers with the information they need to ensure chemical control measures are used only when appropriate and necessary.
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Services available
- Orchard mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspections)
- Insect and disease identification
- Trap monitoring (see separate section for more detail)
Monitoring details
Based on the knowledge of pest biology and behaviour, blocks are monitored at key stages during the crops development.
At each stage, scouts record the identity, location and severity of pests within the orchard and a report is produced for the grower with their findings.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
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Key insect pests
Aphid, thrips, leafroller, oriental fruit moth, European red mite |
Minor insect pests
Cherry slug, earwig, grass grub, mealy bug, scale |
Beneficial insects
Haplothrips kurdjumovi (ERM egg predator), native lacewing (Micromus tasmaniae, an aphid predator), Phytoseiulus persimilus and Typhlodromus pryi (ERM predators), pirate bug (Orius vicinus, a thrips predator), predatory thrips |
SQUASH MONITORING
Fruitfed Supplies’ squash monitoring programme is based on research carried out by Crop & Food Research about viruses and their vectors during the late 1990s. Since then the programme has been further developed by Fruitfed Supplies’ crop monitoring team to suit growers’ needs.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect & disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
Monitoring details
To accurately monitor squash blocks, the first step is to analyse the terrain in consultation with the grower and map the sample blocks so that a representative sample of the crop can be identified.
The crop is monitored at key stages during the season and, on average, six to eight rounds of scouting are conducted.
At each visit, the crop is monitored for cutworm, springtails, aphids, powdery mildew and symptoms of virus. All scouts are aware of the possibility of transferring viruses between blocks and are trained to take appropriate steps to avoid this occurring.
After each visit a report is supplied to the grower detailing the scouts’ observations.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pests
Aphids, cutworm, spring tails |
Minor diseases / viruses
Powdery mildew |
Key diseases / viruses
Angular leaf spot virus, downy mildew, Sclerotinia, watermelon mosaic virus, zucchini (yellow mosaic virus) |
TOMATO MONITORING
Fruitfed Supplies’ tomato monitoring programme follows the integrated pest management (IPM) programme developed by DSIR Plant Protection and Crop & Food Research to identify only the pests that are of economic importance to the crop. This ensures pesticides are applied only when they are most needed to maximise their effectiveness and reduce the risk of pests developing resistance to pesticides.
A variety of insect pests may be found in tomato crops but not all warrant control. Many of the insects commonly seen do not damage the fruit.
Services available
- Block mapping
- Full season or flexible monitoring programmes
- Dial-a-monitor (one-off inspection)
- Insect and disease identification
- Beneficial predator identification
- Biological assessment – calculation of parasitism rate of tomato fruitworm
Monitoring detail
Tomatoes are usually sampled on a weekly basis, but this can be adjusted to suit grower requirements.
At each visit our scouts inspect the crop for key pests and diseases. There are a number of key beneficial predators and parasitoids which we also look for when monitoring tomato crops. These can contribute significantly to biological control and, as part of our service, we collect field samples of tomato fruitworm to assess parasitism rates. We also identify the presence of any weeds that may act as hosts for viruses and their vectors.
From the scouts’ observations, action thresholds are calculated to determine whether control measures need to be applied and a report is given to the grower.
The following table details some of the key pests and diseases we monitor, however this may vary according to seasonal or geographical need.
Key insect pest
Tomato fruitworm |
Minor insect pests
Aphids, thrips, two spotted mites |
Key diseases / viruses
Botrytis, early blight, late blight, Sclerotina |
Beneficial insects
Brown lacewing (aphid predator) |