<
https://theconversation.com/cyclone-gabrielle-hit-nzs-main-fruit-growing-region-hard-now-orchardists-face-critical-climate-choices-200252>
"Hawke’s Bay, one of New Zealand’s most productive regions and the hub of the
fruit-growing sector, is among the areas worst hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and
ongoing rain.
Horticulture underpins the local economy, with apple earnings alone
contributing around NZ$700m annually. The immediate destruction of crops from
the heavy wind and rain is obvious. But the full extent of the long-term damage
to trees and vines themselves is yet to fully assessed.
With metres of silt covering the land, smothering crops and potentially
suffocating the root systems of fruit trees, it’s clear the impacts will be
severe.
Horticulture will take longer to recover than pasture, which can be grown back
on the affected land. Fruit trees have deep roots and require a functioning
soil structure, which may have been destroyed by the silt. Recent media
coverage suggests the industry could take 50 to 100 years to fully recover, but
during that time, we know there will be more extreme weather events.
The region has already been dealing with variable weather, including a severe
frost in October that caused considerable damage to kiwifruit crops."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
