Mike Haupt
With 30 years’ experience in horticulture, a degree in horticultural science and a master’s degree in nature conservation, Mike looks after Bayer’s research station in the Hawke’s Bay.
The site has about 600 apple trees, 1100 row meters of vines, 50 peach trees and a half-hectare cropping area for vegetables and forage crops.
Mike conducts about 20 trials a year at the site, primarily on pome and stone fruit, and vines. He also oversees horticultural contractors’ trials throughout the North and South Islands.
With Mike being on site he also is responsible for health and safety, first aid and ensures that all trials are done in accordance with EPA guidelines, and Bayer SOPs.
Mike also runs the station’s general spray programmes and looks after general maintenance.
Being onsite means he can observe the trials closely and more regularly, allowing additional assessments should pest, disease or weed pressure suddenly proliferate.
The research station allows Bayer staff to see the entire cropping cycle in all seasons and to see how best our products slot into the key timings of a cropping environment.
We also get a better understanding of what farmers go through every day, particularly when it comes to overcoming challenges and threats to crops.
