Growers in the Tasman region of New Zealand are increasingly installing hail nets to protect their investments and insure their global markets. With ever increasing insurance costs and being covered less, they see the nets as a beneficial alternative. "Two years ago if your damage was over a certain value they paid you out 100 per cent with no excess. Now there is a 20 per cent excess which makes it a little bit tougher." Ian Palmer, a local grower said. Palmer had between 10 to 30 per cent of his crop damaged in October's storm. "It's manageable, but more than I thought." Palmer said and continued "I'm pretty sure we will see about 100ha of drape net put up this year. And there has been some retro-fitting of fixed netting, which is raising interest," Fixed netting on posts and wire cost around $20,00 to $30,000 per hectare to erect. But it was permanent crop protection and a good reinvestment policy for growers while returns were positive according to Palmer. Source - stuff.co.nz