The urgent action was taken to eradicate a pea weevil pest threatening the $150 million New Zealand pea industry, including both the export pea seed markets and the processed green pea industry.
All pea production and movement of pea material would shut down on August 1, affecting about 1200 hectares of pea growing across 60-odd properties.
The moratorium was estimated to cost the region’s farmers about $15m as the Ministry for Primary Industries and local pea growers launched an attack on the newly discovered weevil that created havoc in pea crops.
Federated Farmers provincial president Jamie Falloon said collaboration would be key to mitigating individual farmer losses.
MPI and industry organisations such as the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and the grain and seed trade association were working with farmers to put together a package of alternative cropping options for growers.
It was acknowledged nothing would fit quite as well as peas but the key to the two-year growing ban was about eradication.
“Farmers, while upset and worried, understand what it means for their businesses and industry in the future so everyone is working really hard to come up with the best possible options,” Falloon said.
But time was of the essence this season, year one, as the only options available would be spring crops.
“Next year will be a whole different year with more options.
“We have to work on this together as an industry to make sure the two years are not a bloody tough disaster for affected farmers,” Falloon said.
There was a range of growers affected in different ways so it was important the package put together would work for all.
“For that reason it’s hard to say at this stage, until we know the viability of alternative crop options, to just what extent individual losses will be. Clearly it will vary from grower to grower.
“This is unchartered territory forced onto farmers through no fault of their own and how to deal with this is new ground to us all and it’s critical we get it right and growers are willing to sort it now and get peas back into the region.
“We have to work on this together as an industry to make sure the two years are not a bloody tough disaster for affected farmers.”
Jamie Falloon
Federated Farmers
“It will be a concerted community effort,” Falloon said.
Federation national grain and seed chairman Guy Wigley said the key message was “No peas, no pea weevil.
“This is all about eradicating the pea weevil and that means from all home gardens as well,” Wigley said.
Its discovery had long-term implications for pea production in NZ and the pea growing industry was strongly supportive of moves to try to get rid of it, he said.
The weevil slipped past the country’s borders in March but had been found only in Wairarapa.
It was found in pea seeds grown on eight Wairarapa properties and in three seed storage facilities in the region. The larvae feed on growing pea pods, seriously damaging crops.
The affected farms mostly grew seed peas for big companies such as Wattie's as well as supplying seeds for home gardens.
MPI met Wairarapa pea growers last Monday and most had agreed that while it would be tough, taking out the larvae’s food source in the region for a couple of years would protect the NZ pea industry in the long term.
Its investigation diagnostic centres and response director Dr Veronica Herrera said the weevil was isolated to Wairarapa.
“No other country has attempted eradication of this pest as all discoveries have been considered too far gone.
“We have caught this early enough that we believe we have a very real chance of full eradication with this method,” Herrera said.
The ban covered an area from Pahiatua south, including all of Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa Districts.
“We know that this situation is very concerning to local growers who will bear the brunt of this operation through no fault of their own, Herrera said.
Home vegetable growers in the region would also be instructed not to plant peas for the next two seasons and MPI would be distributing comprehensive information about this.
“We’ll be working with garden centres and retailers plus doing widespread advertising and information drops to ensure home gardeners understand the situation and why it’s important they help out.”
Weevil facts
- Pea weevil larvae feed on young peas, damaging crops.
- Larvae tunnel inside the peas, eating the contents as they mature.
- Pea weevils affect only green, ripening peas, not dry peas, but the adults can remain hidden in grain for up to two years.
- Affected green peas can become foul and unfit to eat. Seed might still germinate but the seedlings were often weak and prone to disease.
- Weevils spread by flying from one site to another. They can also be moved in infected pea seed, straw or dirty farm machinery.
