NETTING best practice guidelines

Following a submission and review process by a panel of experts, the Best Practice Guidelines for the Construction of Agricultural Netting Structures was officially published and endorsed by the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers (SAIAE) in January 2023. This is a joint project supported and funded by KAL Group, Hortgro and Citrus Research International, and its official publishing and endorsement mark a major step in professionalising this fast-growing, unregulated sector of the agriculture industry.

An increasing number of growers in the local fruit industry are covering their orchards and vineyards with protective netting. Netting systems are versatile and can be used in different geographical areas, for a variety of fruit industries and for specific production reasons. Damage caused by unfavourable weather conditions such as sudden hailstorms, strong winds, sunburn and harm caused by insects and birds are reduced significantly when orchards and vineyards are protected by netting systems.

Protective netting can provide producers and value chain stakeholders with wide-ranging benefits such as increased yields, improved pack-outs, faster maturity time, reduced production costs and better risk management. The potential benefits of netting structures in agricultural production have resulted in substantial financial investment in netting solutions being made by producers. Because netting structures require big capital outlay, it is imperative for growers to thoroughly research and plan the best system for their individual needs.

Prospective netting customers should be aware that the netting construction sector is currently still unregulated, and that the construction process incorporates many aspects and inherent risks. Without regulations and best practice standards, contractors and producers implement self-developed designs, use materials with unknown specifications and apply construction methods that have yet to be verified, certified and approved.

The lack of certification and industry-approved best practice has resulted in increased risk across the industry value chain. Potential losses are not limited to the netting structure itself but may include consequential damage to crops or orchards. To start addressing the lack of regulations and add value to growers’ farming operations, KAL Group and its partners established the Fruit Industry Netting Infrastructure Guidelines and Standards (FINIGAS) workgroup and commissioned consulting engineers to compile a diagnostic overview of the existing netting sector and standards for netting materials, design and construction methods.

Overall, the Best Practice Guidelines for the Construction of Agricultural Netting Structures is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of netting structures used in agriculture. It is a structured, plain-language document providing step-by-step guidance on the acquisition process, user requirements, design parameters, structural design, implementation, and maintenance of netting systems, and emphasises the importance of quality control throughout the process.

This is a first of its kind document, endorsed by an independent body. Following its instructions can prevent critical mistakes and save costs for growers. The best practices outlined in the Guidelines are derived from civil engineering construction industry standards and norms. The SAIAE acts as the custodian of the document, which will be revised and updated as necessary.

The Guidelines are divided into several sections, each of which is a critical step in the recommended netting structure acquisition process outlined at the start of the document. The process involves: obtaining user requirements, obtaining site-specific inputs, designing the structure, and the quotation and contracting steps. Then followed by material procurement, implementation, quality control and maintenance.

The publication provides a useful framework that empowers growers to ask the right questions, and gives guidance on the minimum requirements for material standards for products, recommended practice and procedures, possible pitfalls, contractual responsibilities and obligations, and the on-going maintenance of the structure.

Engineers are needed to design barns, consultants need to assist with the application of pesticides, and irrigation designers and dam engineers are necessary to implement irrigation systems. All these activities contain directions and best practices to be followed to make it easier to determine if the design meets the requirements. Then, the grower also has a benchmark against which to determine if their needs have been addressed.

The lifespan of a netting structure should match that of the orchard, at least. And if growers want a sturdy structural system, the construction process should be approached with the same due care as conventional building structures and other important farming activities.

The expertise of the average grower typically lies in agricultural activities and not the construction of large-scale structures. Thus, they are often out of their depth where netting systems are concerned. With best practice guidelines now available, growers have access to a standard which they can use to assess the suitability of a proposal, ensuring that quality is not compromised to save costs.

The Best Practice Guidelines for the Construction of Agricultural Netting Structures provides instructions for building agricultural netting systems. However, the owner or contractor assumes responsibility to ensure the application of proper engineering principles and safety protocols. The SAIAE and contributors to the publication are not accountable for any damage to netting structures.

Scan the QR code to download the guidelines.