Kiwifruit growers are holding their breath that spring does not bring them another dose of the vine-killing disease PSA.

Kiwi Vine Health, the independent body set up to manage the control of PSA, is suggesting that during spring, growers should be on the alert, identifying symptoms, removing infected vines, spraying and other precautions.

Genberal Manager, John Burke says its the anxiety of the unknown at this stage. 

“I think we’re all waiting to see how bad the disease is going to exhibit itself going into the spring."

A subsidy for spraying copper onto vines during winter is to be re- introduced in the spring.

Since the disease was discovered last November, 258 kiwifruit orchards have been infected. The only region in the country to remain unaffected thus far, is Northland.

John Burke says they are working closely with the Italian kiwifruit industry, where a number of developments could help Kiwi orchardists. At the moment KVH is putting the finishing touches to its spring programme, which will be available to growers next week.

“What we are doing now is really focusing on making sure we understand where the infection footprint is, and now we’re asking growers to check their orchards, particularly the orchards that are outside what we’ve identified as the priority zones, so we’re not missing anything in terms of where the actual infection footprint is.

“We are in the process now of finishing off the spring programme, which will be in growers hands next week. So that will give growers leads on what they need to be doing, in terms of animal husbandry, and their protective spray programme.”