Read the full MPI media release here.

Read the latest MPI Media Release here

The management of the pest weed Velvetleaf is entering a new phase as property searches across the country draw to a close.

Search and destroy activities have been conducted on more than 600 properties since March this year when velvetleaf was discovered in several regions.

Velvetleaf has been found in 11 regions on 215 properties associated with fodder beet to date.

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director of Investigations, Diagnostics and Response, Veronica Herrera, says the operation has involved a large number of people including volunteers.

“It’s been a truly collaborative approach which has enabled us to get through a large number of properties.

“Regional council staff, industry experts, sector leaders and farmers have all contributed a huge amount of time and energy. The search and destroy operation has been hard, physical work.

“People have literally been trudging through vast areas of fodder beet and, in some cases, very rugged terrain in a bid to find and destroy velvetleaf plants.

“MPI would like to thank everyone involved including volunteers who have made a substantial contribution. All efforts have been greatly appreciated.”

Dr Herrera says with the completion of inspections due this afternoon, the focus will turn to the development of a long term management plan for velvetleaf.

“MPI remains fully engaged in this process and we’ll be spearheading a nationally coordinated approach with the objective of containing and potentially reducing geographical spread over time. This may include local elimination in some regions.

“We are now developing a transition plan, in consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders, until a long term management plan is in place.

“Workshops will be held over the next few weeks where we will be seeking input on interim measure as well as long-term management.

“It is important that everyone involved in the management of velvetleaf remains focused on mitigating the associated biological risk until long term management is established.”

Dr Herrera says MPI is continuing to investigate how contaminated fodder beet seed could have entered New Zealand and the beefed up interim border inspections to stop contaminated seed entering the country will remain in place in the interim.

“MPI has already established that some lines of fodder beet seed grown in Italy and pelletised in Denmark were contaminated with velvetleaf. These lines have been banned from entry into New Zealand.

“We continue to inspect seed from other sources to determine if any other lines are contaminated.

“In addition, the import requirements in the Import Health Standards will be reviewed in light of the learnings from this response, the inspections at the border, and the pathway assurance visit to the growing regions that is coming up in June.”

Dr Herrera says in the meantime, the messages around managing velvetleaf remain the same.

“It’s imperative we don’t become complacent. Vigilance is the key to managing this. Landowners need to continue inspecting their properties for late-emerging velvetleaf and farmers should ensure their on-farm biosecurity measures are robust and enduring.

“This includes strict adherence to guidelines on machinery hygiene, feed management and stock movement that are all contained in our farm management plan.

“MPI will continue to manage the velvetleaf 0800 number (0800 80 99 66) and provide advice and material on managing velvetleaf. We are committed to ensuring the transition into long term management is as smooth as possible and look forward to working with the sector on the way forward.”

To view the release and for further information please visit the MPI website

Media contact: MPI media team

Telephone: 029 894 0328

Email: media@mpi.govt.nz

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is urging farmers to remain vigilant in their management of the velvetleaf pest plant.

MPI’s Velvetleaf 2016 Response Manager, Carolyn Bleach, says the window of opportunity to control plants that haven’t yet seeded is narrowing and it’s very important farmers remain on the look- out.

“Farmers and landowners need to maintain a watchful eye until crops have been grazed, particularly as some late emerging plants have been found in crops that have already been inspected.

 “It’s become apparent that velvetleaf shoots up dramatically when it goes to seed.  A plant that may have been hidden by the canopy of the crop one week can appear a week or so later.

 “We are urging farmers not to become complacent and to report any findings of late-emerging plants to the MPI exotic pest/disease hotline:  0800 80 99 66.

“All seeding plants on inspected properties have been mapped and these areas will need to be revisited for several years to eliminate this pest plant.”

 Dr Bleach says farmers are continuing to receive expert advice on how best to manage velvetleaf.

“This week, farmers from affected properties received guidelines that advised them on how to graze fodder beet crops while minimising the risk of spreading velvetleaf across their properties.

“The guidelines are a collaborative effort with input from MPI, Dairy NZ, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), AgResearch, Federated Farmers and PGG Wrightsons agronomists. Feedback was provided by industry groups.

“MPI is also developing a ‘ute guide’ of the existing Farm Management Plan to ensure the information is as user-friendly as possible for farmers. We’ll also be releasing a FAQ sheet later this week.”

 Meanwhile, Dr Bleach says MPI is receiving regular updates on the number of cases of velvetleaf across the country.

 “There are 169 confirmed cases in 11 regions throughout New Zealand. Canterbury has recorded the highest number to date (88). We are also focussed on completing property inspections across the various regions.”

 Dr Bleach says MPI is encouraged by the support its received from a wide range of stakeholders including industry representatives, regional councils and farmers ensuring an ‘all hands to the pump’ approach is being taken.

“This is a truly collaborative response and we are heartened by the ongoing hard work that’s being put into containing this pest plant.

“The commitment shown by regional councils to help local farmers through this has been great.

 “Managing this pest locally now will help to reduce its impact in the future.”

Media contact: MPI media team

Telephone: 029 894 0328

Email: media@mpi.govt.nz

http://mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/media-releases/farmers-urged-to-remain-on-lookout-for-late-emerging-velvetleaf/

24 March 2016

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), primary sector industry groups and regional councils are stepping up the search for the pest agricultural weed velvetleaf in a bid to contain it to existing locations and halt its spread.

MPI Plants and Environment Surveillance Manager Mark Bullians says while velvetleaf may sound pretty, it’s anything but. In locations where it is established internationally, it has significant impacts on crop production.

“It is a very invasive weed that is very successful at competing with crops for nutrients, space and water,” Mr Bullians says.

“Right now we’re still working to locate outbreaks and remove them from the ground, ideally before seed drops.”

The Ministry’s main message is for farmers who have planted fodder beet seed.

“Check your fodder beet crops and if you believe you have found this weed, photograph any plants, mark the locations so they can be easily found again, and call us on the free hotline 0800 80 99 66.

“We will arrange for technical experts to come and remove velvetleaf plants. Do not attempt to remove them yourself as this risks spreading the seed.” Mr Bullians says there is good advice for farmers on its website.

“There has been a good response to our call for sightings. Currently velvetleaf has been confirmed on 50 properties nationally. There has been some weed found in most regions, but Canterbury has the clear majority of cases.”

The common denominator in all infestations to date is the planting of imported fodder beet seed. Two varieties in particular are implicated – Kyros and Bangor – although MPI is considering the possibility that other varieties could be involved.

“We are also investigating how the contaminated fodder beet seeds could have entered New Zealand. We know that the affected imported fodder beet seed consignments met New Zealand’s importing requirements and were certified by the exporting country. MPI is currently reviewing the import requirements for seed.”

MPI is not just relying on farmers reporting finds. It is working actively with regional councils and the seed industry to trace where potentially contaminated seed was sold and inspect those properties for the presence of the weed.

While the search continues, work is underway developing the best possible options for controlling this pest.

“This is not a situation the Ministry is planning to walk away from,” Mr Bullians says. “Managing this pest will require a sustained combined effort over many years.”
Media contact: MPI media team

Telephone: 029 894 0328

Email: media@mpi.govt.nz

Click here to view the MPI Media Release

Date: 16 Mar 2016

The call for sightings of the aggressive weed velvetleaf has shifted to a national one following the detection of the plant in fodder beet crops in the North Island.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is encouraging farmers and growers who have planted fodder beet seed to check their crops and if they believe they have found the pest, to contact the Ministry on its free hotline 0800 80 99 66.

Velvet leaf is a serious weed pest overseas, damaging crops by competing with them for nutrients and water. In New Zealand, it is an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act.

MPI had been investigating the appearance of velvetleaf on a number of South Island properties and spread the net wider on the understanding that potentially contaminated fodder beet seed had also been sold in the North Island.

Plants and Environment Surveillance Manager Mark Bullians says MPI has now positively identified the weed on a property in the Waikato.

The latest information is that velvetleaf has been confirmed on properties in Canterbury, Central Otago, Marlborough and Waikato.

“The common denominator in all cases is fodder beet crops grown from imported seed,” Mr Bullians says.

“While we are not certain this is the full picture, we now know that some lines of two particular seed varieties – Kyros and Bangor – are very likely to have been contaminated with velvetleaf seed. We believe there may be some other seed varieties implicated.

“For this reason, we urge all farmers and growers who have planted fodder beet this season to check their fields immediately. If you believe you have found this distinctive weed, call MPI immediately on 0800 80 99 66.”

Velvetleaf is a tall-growing weed reaching heights of up to 2m. It has buttery yellow flowers and large velvety heart shaped leaves.

Mr Bullians says farmers are advised to photograph any plants, contact MPI and mark the location of plants so they can be found again easily.

He cautions against pulling up plants and says a technical expert will visit and carefully remove any plants to make sure velvetleaf seed, if present, is not spread.

MPI is investigating how the contaminated weed seeds could have entered New Zealand. The affected imported fodder beet seed consignments met New Zealand’s importing requirements and were certified by the exporting country. The Ministry has contacted the exporting authority and is currently reviewing the import requirements for seed.

Mr Bullians says MPI is working closely with primary industry bodies from both the animal and grain/seed sectors as well as regional councils on managing this situation.

“At this time we are focused on finding outbreaks of the weed and containing it. The earlier we find velvetleaf, the better our chances of controlling it.”

To request a velvetleaf image, email media@mpi.govt.nz.

Media contact: MPI media team

Telephone: 029 894 0328

Email: media@mpi.govt.nz

http://mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/media-releases/velvetleaf-weed-hunt-goes-national/

MPI has been investigating the appearance of this pest weed on a small number of South Island properties and has been steadily building a picture of where the weed is present and if there are any common factors between affected properties.

Plants and Environment Surveillance Manager Mark Bullians says MPI has now positively identified velvetleaf on 10 properties across the South Island and has seven further suspected cases yet to be verified.

“The common denominator is fodder beet crops and, in particular, crops grown from two varieties of imported fodder beet seed.

“Velvetleaf plants are appearing in rows where this fodder beet seed has been drilled and farms concerned have planted either Kyros and/or Bangor seed.

“While we are not certain this is the full picture, we now know that some lines of these two seed varieties are very likely to have been contaminated with velvetleaf seed. For this reason we urge anyone who has planted Kyros and Bangor fodder beet seed to check their fields immediately for the presence of velvetleaf. The seed has been distributed mostly in the South Island but some has been sold in the North Island.

“If you believe you have found this distinctive weed, call MPI immediately on 0800 80 99 66.”

Velvetleaf is a tall-growing weed reaching heights of up to 2m. It has buttery yellow flowers and large velvety heart shaped leaves.

Mr Bullians says farmers are advised to photograph any plants, contact MPI and mark the location of plants so they can be found again easily. He cautions against pulling up plants, or allowing cattle to graze infested crops, and says an MPI or local council representative will visit and carefully remove any plants to make sure velvetleaf seed, if present, is not spread.

Velvet leaf is a serious weed pest overseas, damaging crops by competing with them for nutrients and water. It is an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act, and as such, entry to New Zealand is prohibited.

MPI is investigating how the weed seeds could have entered New Zealand. The affected consignments met New Zealand’s importing requirements and were certified as weed-free by the exporting country. The Ministry is currently reviewing the import requirements for seed.

Mr Bullians says the Ministry is working closely with primary industry bodies from both the animal and grain/seed sectors as well as regional councils on managing this situation. As a precautionary measure, MPI has directed seed and grain retailers not to sell or distribute any remaining stock of the affected seed lines and these retailers have also been directed to instruct buyers to return any unsown seed.

For full information visit: mpi.govt.nz/alerts or contact MPI Mediaphone 029 8940328 or media@mpi.govt.nz

Velvetleaf, a serious cropping pest, has been found in fodder beet crops in North Canterbury and Central Otago. It affects many arable crops by competing for nutrients, water and space.

The Ministry is investigating how it got there and building a picture of how widespread the situation is. At this time it appears the finds are associated with fodder beet crops and MPI is looking at all possible ways the plants could have arrived at the properties concerned.

Manager of Plants and Environment Surveillance, Mark Bullians, says it’s important those who sowed fodder beet this season check their crop for the presence of this very distinctive weed.

Velvetleaf is a broad-leafed weed that grows to between 1m and 2.5m. It has buttery-yellow flowers which appear over summer and autumn. Leaves are heart shaped and velvety to touch.

“We are hoping that in most cases we will be able to locate any velvetleaf plants and remove them before they can spread their seed. Once seed falls, it can persist for decades, making control a very long term process,” Mr Bullians says.

“If farmers and growers find this pest we urge them to photograph it, mark its location so it can be found again easily and immediately call MPI on its free hotline – 0800 80 99 66.

“Calls will be referred to an incursion investigator who will make arrangements to safely remove and collect any plants. We advise people not to remove any plants themselves as this could risk seed being spread.”

Velvetleaf is known to be present in the Waikato where it is well managed by the regional council. The South Island discovery looks to be recent and MPI is working with partners in the seed and farming industries and regional councils to manage it.

“Immediate reporting to MPI will give us the best possible chance of dealing with this weed,” Mr Bullians says.

Full information is at: www.mpi.govt.nz/alerts

Media contact: 029 8940328 or media@mpi.govt.nz