We don't like to blow our own horn, so hear what our clients have to say!
Tim Egan, Gisborne grower and entrepreneur
Finding MetWatch OnLine great!
Reid Fletcher, Grape
Grower and juice processor
Impressed with MetWatch Online!!
Ian Palmer, Orchardist, and Chairman, Pipfruit New Zealand Inc.
Just a quick note to let you know my modem card worked fine in the USA, I had
no problems dialling the weather station from Anaheim. Also I had no
problems with the forecast either. It allowed to coordinate my chemical
thinning from the other side of the world with all the current weather info at
my fingertips.
Stu Burns, Camelot Fresh Fruit Company
The forecasting has been spot on for me the last couple of weeks regarding
rainfall, thanks for the great information.
Adele Cuthill, Pernod Ricard Vineyard Manager
Nice to see your forecasts again! don't
realise how much we use them until its gone!!
Deanna Foley, AgFirst
Love love LOVE the online updating of Metwatch!
Carl Knapp, Orchard Manager, Mr Apple
[MetWatch On-Line is] up and running, the site is great.
Peter Clark, Australia
[Quick Measure Temperature] loggers are performing well and providing vital info
for our operation.
Peter Wood, HortResearch
[MetWatch] its such a good tool ....
I can't live without it!
Shaun Vickers, Heritage Farms, Waikato
I have used the Metwatch & Spray diary programmes for around 5 years and
recently the forcast programme as well, i find this a very useful tool and a wise
investment, The forcast is a bonus on top because now we can predict what is coming and
plan ahead.
We use it not only for blackspot infections - but planning what days we
can spray, it tells us what wind speed/directions are due to come our way, as well
as temperatures for prodicting frosts, when the rain is due and how much rain, if there is
likely to be any thunder/lightning/ hail etc. It is another good tool we can use to
understand and grow with mother nature.
It is often used by myself and the others here to prodict what weather will have
for our weekends off. (ha ha) It is also a great training tool for my apprentices to
show and help them understand weather patterns and systems, and they really like getting
on the computer and using it.
Peter Jeffery, Fresh Technologies, Massey University
Everything is going well. We do 2500 fruit per day and can do 700
per hour if we push it. We did a comparision with a normal penetrometer to check
consistency and it just makes you realise how much easier/faster the HortPlus one is.
The comparison looks good.
Stephen Lockett, 3Q, Packhouse Quality Consultants, Motueka
"I was telling Chris the other day that we have processed 6 1/2 ton of fruit
through that machine [the Quick Measure Penetrometer], so she has done us well"
Craig Gass, Winemaker McCashins Wines
I am absolutely stoked over the info and usefulness of the Metwatch
[/Forecast] programme and its uncanny nack of being so accurate. We have been able to
predict down to the hour - no kidding - on weather changes and hence disease pressure. We
have been using every little window of opportunity to enable us to put cover sprays on. I
am a convert. Yeah !!!!!
| Reid Fletcher, Grape
Grower "I have been using Metwatch since 1996 and it has become an integral part of my grape growing operation. During the season I start the day with meusli & Metwatch with the latter being the most important aid to spray related decisions in the effort to achieve sustainable pest & disease management with minimum pesticide applications. "Hortplus have constantly updated the programme and it is now very user friendly and the added forecasting component (which is frighteningly accurate) makes it in my opinion the best value for money management aid on the market. I have no hesitation in recommending it to all those involved with the land where weather plays the upper hand." |
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| Dermott Malley BScz (Hons), NCFOM Managing Director, Onyx Orchards "Onyx Orchards used Metwatch and Spray Log extensively last year as a combined method of ascertaining when to spray and recording the sprays used by each block. We are in a Fireblight area so the Fireblight model was of particular importance to our operation, however the blackspot model is an essential tool for all orchardists. With the increasing pressures of "getting it right" with your crop and making sure you don't spend too much. Metwatch is a very helpful tool in managing your disease risk and planning your sprays. Certainly we believe that without Metwatch we would have spent more on sprays and may still have missed the significant events. |
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| We also used Metwatch's Brown Rot model as part of the Summergreen IFP programme on peaches and nectarines. Yes you do need a computer but once you can switch it on the rest is fairly simple. We will be using Metwatch again in the coming year as part of our crop risk management programme." | |
Mike Willis, President, NZ Citrus Growers Association
Hortplus [MetWatch] is working fine and I have got most of the historical
data I needed. This system is totally invaluable and I use it about 4 times everyday for
both grapes and citrus.
Doug Bell, Grape Grower, Gisborne
Your service is incredible!!
Gillian Wilson, Wi Pere Vineyard Manager, Gisborne
"I have used HortPlus and its predecessor Orchard 2000 for the past
three years and found the weather information access and analytical systems to be
extremely useful tools as an aid to effective vineyard management. There has always been
cheerful and willing assistance from the support people to assist in solving any problems
with our weather station, data downloads or technological ignorance."
Richard Prew, General Manager, Heritage Farm
Heritage Farm has been using MetWatch and its predecessor for 6 years now.
During the season we use the program most days for both blackspot monitoring and
for fireblight. The team is not very proficient on computers but we can all handle
the progam easily and find that the constant improvements are helpful and easy to learn.
I would certainly recommend MetWatch to all growers. The backup service and
value that we have had from the program makes it very easy for me to recommend it to every
grower.
Jonathon Wiltshire, Grower
"I have had a long association with Hortplus principal Andrew Hodson and have
always found his approach to decision making software to be innovative, practical, and
user friendly. As a pipfriut grower in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand I have operated a weather
station for seven years using a variety of software but I believe the latest releases from
Hortplus have taken a step forward in innovation and cost efficiency."
Dr Greg Tate, Crop Health Services
"I have accessed Orchard2000 data loggers and used infection monitoring
software now for several years and have found them essential to my business. The tools I
use have to be accurate and within the limitations of most infection models they have
served me well. The new, more flexible MetWatch and SprayView software I expect to serve
me even better. "
Duncan Mathers, Orchardist, Central Otago
"...have Metwatch which I believe saved us thousands of dollars this
season".
Reg Lewthwaite, Unitec, Auckland
"I do use the info [from MetWatch] - it's good, it works."
Andrew Rath, Valent BioSciences, Australia
"...I have been playing with the penetrometer for the last couple of
days - I am impressed. It seamlessly transfers to the computer, and the maturity program
is excellent. Again, excellent piece of equipment. I wish I had it three years
ago."
Thomas Paterson, HortResearch, Te Puke
"Got the [Quick Measure ] penetrometer yesterday morning thanks and set it up
in 5 minutes-flat."
Heather McBrydie, HortResearch, Ruakura, Hamilton
"[Quick Measure Temperature] Loggers arrived this morning and we are very
pleased with your product."
Eric Cairns, President, Wellington Horowhenua Branch, NZ Tree Crops Assoc
Thankyou for the two temperature micro logger starter packs which arrived
yesterday. They are very easy to install and use.
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