Millions of orchids lost in spray botch

Fairfax Media

ORCHID SPRAY BOTCH: Up to 10% of New Zealand's export cymbidium orchids worth several million dollars and bound for Asia, Europe and the United States have been destroyed by a new insecticide imported last September

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Up to 10 per cent of New Zealand's export cymbidium orchids worth several million dollars and bound for Asia, Europe and the United States have been destroyed by a new insecticide imported last September.

Oberon, manufactured by German crop science and pharmaceutical conglomerate  Bayer AG, was pulled from the New Zealand market two weeks ago by its New Zealand subsidiary Bayer CropScience.

Failure to provide adequate spraying instructions appears to be the problem, rather than the insecticide itself, which is widely used in Europe.

It is understood growers were not told the spray should be used only in cool months nor the impact of dense spraying, particularly in hot temperatures.  Crops most severely affected were sprayed in summer. 

Though the amount of millilitres per 100 litres on the insecticide label is 20 per cent higher than recommended in the Netherlands, the main issues were the hot temperatures and the density of spray per square metre. 

The most saturated crops have been destroyed. Those sprayed lightly have survived but are producing deformed flower heads that look like cauliflowers.

In an ironic twist the insecticide is believed to be the most effective treatment for destruction of the tomato/potato pysillid, the pest suspected of spreading a new bacterium found in tomatoes and capsicums in recent weeks.

Biosecurity New Zealand has blocked export of the vegetables after the bacteria was found in three Auckland commercial hothouses.

Nineteen orchid growers with  nurseries in the North Island and the top of the South Island have have had crops partially or totally destroyed by Oberon.

New Zealand Export Growers Orchid Association chairman John van der Linden  says orchid exports are worth about $20 million a year.  About 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the crop has been wiped out or stem quality downgraded since the effect of the insecticide became evident. 

The final fallout of the spray botch won't be known for another five months because growers have sprayed at different times.

Bayer Crop Science's New Zealand country manager Jon Neal said the  issue was "very serious.''

"It is a high value crop and this is exceptionally regrettable.''

"There is a significant amount of money involved.''

His company has been working closely with growers  to look at remedies.

When asked if Bayer was admitting liability he said he could not comment because insurance assessors were involved.  Bayer has hired law firm Simpson Grierson to act for it.

Growers started complaining a month ago about damage to their orchids after spraying Oberon, sold to them through Bayer's sole New Zealand distributor, Horticentre.

Bayer Crop Science sent a letter yesterday to update growers on progress in its investigation and to look at the next step.

Van der Linden said it was difficult to assess damage because growers who had their crops wiped out  would have to wait up to six years for new plants to flower.  He said there was also an issue for growers of exclusive brands who would not be able to resource their premium-paying supplies.

Neal, who has been in the job just five months, said his company had moved quickly to work through the issues from labelling to applications to determining fault and liability and insurance on lost crops.

Oberon is touted in a press release on Bayer's website as ``a unique new mode of action'' to control two of New Zealand's major pests  whitefly and spider mites.

It also says New Zealand trials have shown Oberon is well tolerated by tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, roses, gerberas, carnations, freesias and leather fern.

"Oberon may be the king of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream but it is a nasty hobbit around here,'' said van der Linden.

Neal said the company was talking with regulatory authorities about relabelling so it could get the insecticide back on the market for use on tomatoes and capsicums. Growers are anxious to get clearance for their crops in time for the lucrative summer export season. 

But there would be no quick turnaround because insurance assessors had to work through a process for claims on the orchids before a possible re-introduction.

- © Fairfax NZ News