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Crop Estimation

Why Estimate?

Crop estimation is a process that is done well by some packhouses / growers and done poorly by others. There are many benefits associated with accurate crop estimation.

  • Powerful information for pollination, thinning strategies, size / crop load relationships.
  • Useful tool for assessing effectiveness of thinning rounds.
  • Useful for financial budgeting.
  • Essential for packhouse planning, expected trays for new or extended facilities.
  • Essential for Zespri promotion and shipping planning.

Why use AgFirst BOP's Crop Estimation Service?

  • Experienced - Agfirst BOP have run the Zespri monitor orchard programme New Zealand wide for the last 10 years. They have been involved in fruit size monitoring for in excess of 10 years.
  • Quality service - Agfirst BOP have QA systems in place to ensure accuracy.
  • Full data management service - Are you fed up with managing Excel spreadsheets? You can manage the data in the Agfirst site and produce Packhouse and Grower reports.

The Service

Agfirst BOP currently offer the following crop estimation services:

  • Consultancy service in assisting packhouses / growers in setting up systems to accurately estimate fruit and tray numbers.
  • Web based data management service storing bud, flower, fruit counts and size information and providing associated reports for decision making.
  • Fruit size monitoring either via callipering of fruit or fruit weighing to provide growth rates and or profile estimates.
  • Customised service & pricing.

Our Crop Estimation Packages

All options are based on 4 bays per Hectare. A one off setup fee of $40/ha applies.

Option 1: Winter Bud, Flower and Fruit Counts, including Size Profile Predictions ($224/ha + GST)
  • Winter Bud Counts
  • Flower Counts
  • Fruit Counts
  • Random Fruit sample collection (20 fruit/bay producing estimates of % undersize, average count & profile) Dry Matter test optional extra
  • Multi level web access & reporting - ability for client or Agfirst to apply assumptions to convert counts into crop estimate for growers & groups, view results & print reports (real time reporting to growers)
Option 2: Flower and Fruit Counts, including Size Profile Predictions ($160/ha + GST)
  • Flower Counts
  • Fruit Counts
  • Random Fruit sample collection (20 fruit/bay producing estimates of % undersize, average count & profile) Dry Matter test optional extra
  • Multi level web access & reporting - ability for client or Agfirst to apply assumptions to convert counts into crop estimate for growers & groups, view results & print reports (real time reporting to growers)
Option 3: Fruit Counts, including Size Profile Predictions ($88/ha + GST)
  • Fruit Counts
  • Random Fruit sample collection (20 fruit/bay producing estimates of % undersize, average count & profile) Dry Matter test optional extra
  • Multi level web access & reporting - ability for client or Agfirst to apply assumptions to convert counts into crop estimate for growers & groups, view results & print reports. (real time reporting)

If you would like a variation to the above counting methods then please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.