AgFirst - independent consultants to agriculture and horticulture

Steve Spark


Horticulture Consultant
Steve brings over 20 years experience to his pipfruit and kiwifruit consultancy clients. He provides intensive orchard consultancies, working with clients on a fortnightly basis discussing issues such as:
  • orchard management
  • pruning
  • thinning
  • harvest management
  • pest and disease management
  • financial planning
  • staff management

His strong financial management skills also provide financial planning and monitoring, budgeting, performance analysis and purchase appraisals for a range of clients.

Steve is involved in economic analysis on an industry level, managing the MAF Nelson Pipfruit monitoring data collection and commentary report. He is also currently managing a 3 year MAF Sustainable Farming Fund project on “Enhancing Dry Matter of Nelson Kiwifruit”, and has contributed to a wide range of projects, including two reports for ENZA “New Zealand pipfruit production - financial analysis for the year ending 1995” and “New Zealand pipfruit variety performance 1996”, repeated in 1998.

AgFirst Motueka has established independent laboratory services and Steve runs a Zespri approved Independent Kiwifruit Dry Matter laboratory in Motueka that provides maturity clearances to all Nelson kiwifruit growers.

Steve also works as an crop loss insurance assessor for kiwifruit and apples across the Nelson Region.

Other areas of expertise include:

  • Established and ran pipfruit pruning courses for long-term unemployed WINZ clients in Nelson.
  • Attended two International Kiwifruit Symposiums, Rotorua in 2006 and Greece in 1995.
  • Completed a study trip to Japan in 1991 to investigate green tea production – sponsored by MAF.

Projects and Services

Enhancing Nelson Kiwifruit Dry Matter

This is an ongoing project to better identify any possible opportunities and trends that may assist Nelson orchards to achieve higher Dry Matter.. read more...

Jazz Discussion Group Facilitation

Steve facilitates the Coastal Jazz discussion group, assisting growers to enhance fruit size and yields, and presenting Jazz fruit yields at Enza seminars.

AgFirst Technical Services maturity clearances for kiwifruit

Steve is the project manager for Zespri's programme in the Nelson area, tasked each year with providing maturity clearances for Hayward and Hort16a Gold kiwifruit growers, using the AgFirst Netlab software.


Steve Spark

AgFirst Motueka
171 High Street
PO Box 33
Motueka

03 528 0330 Office
03 528 0331 Fax
0274 372 344 Cell

ssparkDELETETHIS
@agfirstDELETETHIS.co.nz