Australia
August 26, 2014

Preserving yield and profitability through the effective management of insect pests in northern grain crops will be the focus of three research workshops in New South Wales next month.

Hosted by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the workshops are being held at Narromine on September 16, Gunnedah on September 17 and Warialda on September 18.

The workshops will equip leading agronomists, consultants and growers with up-to-date trial data and recommendations from the region’s top researchers.

GRDC Northern panel member Keith Harris, Windy Station, Quirindi said it was an exceptional opportunity for growers and advisors to discuss relevant local insect pest management (IPM) issues and source advice on effective monitoring and control.

“Workshops like these are a chance for growers and advisors to hear leading industry advice on a range of insect pest issues from insect identification right through to effective monitoring and control,” Mr Harris said.

“This opens the door for the implementation of more sustainable insect management practices into the future.”

Topics to be discussed include implementing an integrated approach to insect management and decision making, monitoring and economic thresholds, IPM tools including conservation of beneficial insects and options for more selective insecticides.

Workshop facilitator John Cameron, ICAN, said regionally important pests and issues would provide the focal point for discussion.

“Aphid and Rutherglen bug management will be discussed in detail as will scouting techniques in canola and faba beans, insecticide resistance in aphids and managing aphid vectored viral disease transmission in canola and pulse crops,” Mr Cameron said.

“New research that highlights an issue with accurate scouting of Helicoverpa larvae in faba bean and evolving recommendations to deal with this will also be discussed.

“We’ll also look at options to use beneficial insects and where more selective insecticides can be fitted in.”

Workshop discussions will be led by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Principal Entomologist Dr Melina Miles and NSW Department of Primary Industries Research Entomologist Jo Holloway.

Morning sessions for all workshops will be held indoors while afternoon sessions will be convened in the field, weather permitting, to cover practical aspects of pest identification, threshold determination, scouting and management.

The Narromine workshop on September 16 will be held at the Aero Club from 8:30am – 3pm, the Gunnedah workshop on September 17 is being held at the Services and Bowling Club from 8:30am – 3pm while the Warialda workshop on September 18 will be at the Golf and Bowling Club between 8:30am and 3pm.

All participants will receive access to a first class resource kit including GRDC Factsheets, GRDC Ute Guides, course notes and presentations.

The cost of the workshops is $50 per person GST inclusive and catering is provided.

For online registration and payment visit http://icanrural.com.au/registration/IMGC.htm or call John Cameron or Erica McKay on 02 9482 4930.

Photo: A number of the workshop discussions will be led by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Research Entomologist Jo Holloway. Image supplied by NSW DPI.