TriCal New Zealand – TriCal, Inc.

What Can We Learn From New Zealand? Pic-Plus Trial Shows Positive Results in Stone Fruit

Posted on October 6, 2026October 5, 2026 by Cat Reyes

What can stone fruit growers learn from a soil fumigation trial in New Zealand? A recent Pic-Plus soil fumigation trial in a replanted peach orchard in Bay View, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, showed positive results, including greater early tree growth and measurable changes in the soil microbiome. The results provide an interesting look at the role of soil fumigation in orchard replanting. Stronger Early […]

Ag News: A blog by Dr. Mike Stanghellini, Dr. Kristi Sanchez & Guests

Our Authors

Dr. Mike Stanghellini
Director of Research & Regulatory Affairs Dr. Mike Stanghellini received a dual-major Ph.D. in Entomology and Horticultural Science with a minor in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Since 2005, he has served as the TriCal liaison to federal, state, and international regulatory agencies, agrochemical companies, grower organizations, and third-party research entities. Mike directs and supervises our research on product defense, new product registration, and lab/field research on soil fumigants, novel products, and non-fumigant soil pest control tactics.

Dr. Kristi Sanchez
Senior Researcher and Nematologist Dr. Kristi Sanchez received her Ph. D. in Plant Pathology, specializing in Nematology, from the University of California, Davis. She has over a decade of combined research and field experience with UC Davis, the agrichemical industry, and the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Kristi’s expertise includes pest management of nematodes, morphological and molecular diagnostics of plant parasitic nematodes, and the development of experimental assays for nematode studies in the lab and field. Kristi is a regular invited speaker on topics related to soil health, nematode control, and integrated pest management in orchards.