Thread: Rabbits on kiwifruit orchards

Recently I've been shooting rabbits on kiwifruit orchards and have been bringing the meat home for the family. However, the wife has decided she doesn't want to eat rabbit from the orchards as she's worried about pesticides, herbicides etc. or whatever may be sprayed on the orchards.

A quick google has brought up next to nothing. Does anyone have any insights into how safe or otherwise it would be to consume rabbits from such places? The best I've managed is the Consumer article below, which notes that no pesticide residues are found in green kiwifruit. I take this as a loose proxy for rabbits living in the same area.

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles...fruit-and-vege

Indeed.its a food production area so they should be fine.

All pesticides have a withholding period.
Just ask some questions around the pesticides they’re using and make an educated decision from there.
I would have thought their growing contract would also prohibit any shooting once the fruit has formed.

Can't say for kiwifruit specifically but some of the stuff they spray on apples is seriously nasty stuff, as in nobody should even be on the orchard without BA for 24 hours nasty

Yep, some of the sprays mean no rabbits so that is sort of good I guess (can't eat what is already killed off!).

As noted, everything else has a period of when you aren't meant to be around the stuff - but it is worth noting the average self respecting rabbit won't be anywhere near the commotion of spraying.

If in doubt, 7-14 days withholding period should mean safe - just check with the orchard management outfit what they've been using as they should have this stored and should also hold the MSDS and tech specs of the products. Supposed to be able to produce those on request, so all should be above board.

Guys you’re over reacting. The mammalian toxicity of compounds used in NZ kiwi and pome fruit orchards has improved so much in the last 30 years and last 20 in particular it’s a non event. If you just go by re entry period guidelines(growers will have these) you will be fine.


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Originally Posted by Mintie

Can't say for kiwifruit specifically but some of the stuff they spray on apples is seriously nasty stuff, as in nobody should even be on the orchard without BA for 24 hours nasty

Well, I’m still involved ( since 1984 ) in pip/stonefruit orchards as well as vineyards and apart from Hydrogen Cyanamide we don’t use any agri-chemicals which are particularly nasty. H-C is used once per year if at all on apple, apricot, cherry and kiwifruit crops. Yes there are strict application and re-entry regulations. Up until fairly recently I was a Registered Chemical Applicator so have a bit of knowledge regarding this subject.

We always panicked about our stock getting into kiwifruit orchards due to copper toxicity. We also kept well away during Hi-cane spraying and I can't remember what else now, it's a few years ago now.

Personally I wouldn't be eating them.

is she eating kiwifruit?

they will receive the same spray as the rabbits...

Originally Posted by STC

is she eating kiwifruit?

they will receive the same spray as the rabbits...

Generally it stays on the outside of the kiwifruit so it just gets washed off... Bit different with rabbits that are eating things in the area.

The H-C is one of the worst - but we also had issues with overspray of something that was intended to control birds as well, that was quite nasty and the contractor did not communicate on a day that the wind was blowing into the shed we were working in. That created a lot of drama as a couple of guys got sick from that and it took weeks/months for them to come right. The copper generally isn't a problem - I use that on my block although I wouldn't bathe in it. A lot of the sprays are instant death from the MSDS to be fair too, when they aren't that acutely toxic in the usual mixed spray amounts you deal with on trees.

For safety testing ie pesticide residues, the fruit including the skin is in the sample. They assume people eat kiwi skins.

HC is quite volatile and residues fisssprar quickly.

Your over thinking this one but your decision.

Remember also that sprays in orchards are directed to the trees and vines or weeds under the rows. While there is some runoff, most of the non herbicide sprays stay on the target plants and not the clover and grasses between the rows Mr rabbit feeds on.


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