50-plus projects under way to combat bacterial plague.

The PSA bacteria is spreading through the nation's kiwifruit crops with the latest confirmed infections found on orchards in ...

Federated Farmers want a ban on pollen imports and an end to artificial pollination of kiwifruit after Psa was found in pollen samples.

The Government has announced a $50 million plan to fight the kiwifruit vine bacteria PSA and expects total losses from infection of $75 million over the next two years.

The Kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council has put together a grower support package which it will propose to Biosecurity Minister David Carter and other parties tomorrow.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter says hopes of eradicating the Psa disease are fading, with the number of infected orchards climbing.

The kiwifruit crisis in the Bay of Plenty is reaching new heights, with the number of stricken Te Puke orchards today doubling to eight. Another 82 are under investigation.

A fourth orchard in Te Puke has been confirmed with the kiwifruit vine-killing disease PSA. MAF is currently investigating 82 orchards in total.

It was just another day at Zespri, until the phone rang and the jaw-dropping news came through.

As suspicions grow that Psa has spread to kiwfruit orchards outside the BOP, MAF says it's unlikely it will be able to eradicate the disease.

The Govt could learn today whether diseased kiwifruit vines will need to be destroyed, as leaves begin to wilt on the first properties reported.