Paeony growers are expected to begin trials of a new spraying programme next week as negotiations continue with the United States Department of Agriculture over restrictions on cut flower imports from New Zealand.
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture suspended all imports of New Zealand flowers and foliage after discovering light brown apple moths on a shipment of forsythia and other flowers grown outdoors in the South Island.
For paeony growers, time to introduce changes is limited.
Picking is due to start in less than three weeks in some northern centres and six weeks in the south.
New Zealand Paeony Society president Rodger Whitson, of Wingatui, has been encouraged by the all-clear given to some 25 cymbidium orchid glasshouses this week. (A further 10 were inspected and rejected.)Yesterday, he said there was about a 40% chance the paeony industry could also get approval, provided it could satisfy the US it had an acceptable risk-management programme in place.
Rather than wait for the outcome of the USDA negotiations, which is not expected for another week, growers are being asked to be proactive and begin spraying next week.
Sprayed plant samples would be checked by a North Island laboratory to ensure spraying was effective, Mr Whitson said.
It seemed likely that future requirements for growers would include spraying in the field and fumigation once blooms were picked.
While some growers did both already, as he did, many did one or the other.
He expected the programme would require targeted spraying for the moth and each export grower would need to be inspected and certified.
