Research and Development

Skeltons technical advisors are well respected by researchers involved in developing products and programmes for the organic and biological growing industries.

We continuously liaise with Hort Research, Pipfruit NZ, and BioGro to ensure the quality of our technical advice to growers.

Our long- term involvement has meant we have identified research needs and are often involved in project initiations and trials.  Some examples include:

• A project to determine the phytotoxic effect of lime sulphur on Braeburn leaves.  Skeltons provided ‘in kind’ assistance and arranged funding from the predominant providers of lime sulphur at the time.  The project was carried out by Jens Wensche of Hort Research, Havelock North.
• Assisting Hort Research with Bronze Beetle information and collection for research projects.
• Producing a well respected Black Spot Control document that identified six areas of relevant research. 
• Assisting GroChem to develop Blossom Bless, a natural control agent for fireblight.