• There are a range of products registered for use in avocados that have label claim for these pests on other crops. While NZ Avocado explores label extension to cover these pests on avocados, many of these products will target mealybug and scale insects when they are used against the label claim pests for avocado if the application coincides with vulnerable life stages or infestations of these pests.
• If application is for mealybug/scale insect control only, NZ Avocado has a dispensation process for the application of products “off label” in extenuating This can be done through an email to spraydairy@nzavocado.co.nz, ensure you include PPIN, pest, situation, intended product to be used and a copy of the monitoring results.

• Registered for AvoGreen monitoring with an Operator or as an Owner Operator in the NZ Avocado system.
• Have on file and available for immediate audit at any time:

  • A copy of the agreement for pest monitoring if using an Operator.
  • A copy of the Owner-operator licence agreement with (NZ Avocado) and pest monitor certificate of the person doing the pest monitoring if working as an Owner-operator.
  • A copy of the Growsafe certificate of sprayer spraying your orchard.
  • A Monitoring Plan with ALL of the details completed (or a copy of the agreed plan with the Operator).
  • A monitoring schedule developed for the applicable season for self as an Owner operator or for the Operator you have engaged.
  • An up to date orchard map where blocks match the spray diary and AvoGreen Sample areas are indicated.
  • All Monitoring Results (including those where no pests were detected or when no pest thresholds were met) not meeting threshold.
  • A copy of all pest monitoring results are sent to the packhouse on a monthly basis NB: These results will be required to be recorded in the new industry spray diary when.
  • Evidence of actions (spraying or monitoring) when thresholds are met.
  • Evidence of use of appropriate chemical against the pest threshold indicated in the monitoring results.
  • If applying spraying the orchard is done by the owner an agrichemical inventory must be immediately available (as per GAP requirements).

As a long term risk management approach the avocado industry exporters have identified there is a need to diversify our markets to reduce reliance on a single market.

• China’s pest risk assessment has identified a number of pests of concern across a number of crops in China. The ones included in the avocado programme were identified as a risk on the avocado export pathway and therefore require specific management to reduce the risk of them getting into China.
• Put simply –they were not necessarily focussed just on avocado pests but pests that could be found on avocado orchards that may affect crops in their country.

• There is a requirement that AvoGreen recording sheets have a number of critical fields included.
• Operators and Grower will always retain the ability to monitor and report on other insects present when monitoring, including beneficial insects and observations and comments fields exist on the current approved form.
• Where AvoGreen Operators are choosing to customise their forms they must be confirming through NZ Avocado that the critical fields are included.

• NZ Avocado has an industry approved monitoring sheet that has been uploaded to the AvoGreen section on the website that should be used by all monitoring staff.
• If an Owner-operator or an Operator wishes to use a report in a different format, they have to have this approved by NZ Avocado.

• All thrips at all life stages either have market access or crop protection implications and therefore must be monitored for.
• Monitors will not be able to distinguish between the juvenile stages of GHT and FT.
• The presence of juvenile thrips is to be recorded under THRIPS.
• Where an adult FT is clearly identifiable this is to be recorded in the FT column and calculation. Please see below.
• Knowing if there is mixed populations is critical so the presence of whether there is both juvenile and adult thrips should be made in the observation or comment fields.

Firstly, if you are always responding to a threshold by spraying within 28 days of monitoring, you will always be compliant for all markets including China.
If you choose not to spray in response to a threshold being met or exceeded, there are re-monitoring options that must be under-taken to be compliant for China.

• Sprays are not the monitor’s responsibility – it is the grower’s responsibility to document all sprays in the electronic spray diary.
• The grower’s responsibility is to demonstrate that all sprays have been applied as a results of a threshold being met or as a justified other situation.

• All pre-harvest quarantine monitoring results are to be submitted to the packhouse.
• Leafroller is a quarantine market access pest and the packhouse has to actively make a decision on how they manage that fruit.

• NZ Avocado value the role that Owner operators and pest monitors play in the AvoGreen programme and often these are the best monitors for the business as they are on the orchard all of the time.
• NZ Avocado is increasing the frequency of training and access to training material to assist growers who want to continue to monitor We are happy to assist and support anyone who is committed to the programme to become compliant and carry out the requirements of the programme with ease.