The butternuts for our 2025-2026 cropping season, in the Carbon Positive trial, have been planted!
The Conventional treatment was planted with treated seed and 300kg/ha of Complex fertiliser.
The Hybrid treatment was planted with treated seed, coated in TrichoStart and 300kg/ha of Complex fertiliser. Mycorrcin, Biostart N and TrichoStart were applied at planting via liquid injection.
The Regenerative treatment was planted with untreated seed, and 5kg/ha of humates mixed with 150kg of Complex fertiliser. As with the hybrid treatment, mycorrcin, Biostart N, and TrichoStart were applied via liquid injection.
After planting, all treatments received Ironmax slug bait before two 50cm strips of pre-emergeence herbicide, Frontier-P and Magister, were strip-sprayed over the plant lines.
Throughout the season, the Operations Advisory Group and Heinz-Wattie’s agronomists will meet weekly to track how the butternuts are growing. Together, they’ll make the calls on crop protection, weeding, fungicide and insecticide use, and adjust management decisions as the season unfolds.
A big thank you to Gareth Holder from Redloh Horticulture for taking the time to plant our butternuts.
Carbon Positive is a partnership between LandWISE, the HB Future Farming Trust, McCain Foods, Heinz-Wattie’s and Process Vegetables NZ.