Changes in Pesticide use and regulations both here and abroad can potentially affect local growers while Integrated Pest Management and integrated weed management are dynamic areas which are the subject of much ongoing research. Overviews of recent developments are covered in this section, together, with key industry events and seasonal developments. Here are some current items that might interest you.

Posted 16/01/12

• Most herbicIde applications in summer present a risk of spray drift. One of the key components of spray drift risk management is the use of at least medium, but more often coarse spray quality. Bill Gordon says there are options for achieving herbicide efficacy even with these large spray droplet sizes. http://www.crdc.com.au/index.cfm?pageID=31&displayNewsID2=41
• Apple dimpling bugs (ADB) live a dual purpose life.  Based on the findings of a study of ADB, Dr Moazzem Khan (DEEDI) recommends an economic spraying threshold of 10 per metre row of cotton along with 50% fruit retention at the squaring stage. http://thebeatsheet.com.au/
• The Cotton Catchment Community CRC November On Farm Pest Management update summarises the use of petroleum spray oils in cotton pest management.  http://www.cottoncrc.org.au/Industry/Publications/Information_Sheets

Posted 16/09/11

• Aphids are present in cereal and canola crops in many districts but a period of cool conditions and rainfall has kept populations low. Regular monitoring for aphid activity should now have commenced as the onset of warmer spring temperatures will rapidly increase rates of population growth. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/publications/pestfacts8
• SLW is capable of transmitting viruses from several different taxonomic virus groups. Out of all virus groups the Begomovirus genus pose the greatest threat to Australian cotton, grain, vegetable and nursery industries. http://thebeatsheet.com.au/ 
• The NSW DPI has just published the Orchard Plant Protection Guide for deciduous fruits, 2011-12. It provides up-to-date information on all aspects of protecting your orchard from pests and diseases. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/pests-diseases-hort/multiple/orchard-plant-protection-guide 
• The Cotton Research and Development Corporation has recently published new editions of both the Pest and Beneficials Field Guide and the Cotton Pest Management Guide. http://www.crdc.com.au/

Posted 28/04/11

• The high rainfall of the 2010/11 spring/summer season is continuing into autumn and will provide perfect conditions for a 'green bridge' of weeds on which pests can survive to cause problems for establishing cereal crops. Growers are being advised to reduce this feed by managing weeds, crop stubble and forage trash accordingly. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/publications/pestfacts2
• Rotating a pulse or oilseed crop between cereals has been shown by the WA Department of Agriculture and Food to almost always out-return a cereal followed by cereal. The broadleaf crop rotation provides an opportunity to use different pest, disease and weed control options and planting timings. http://www.grdc.com.au/uploads/documents/GRDC_FS_Breakcrops_West.pdf
• Inspectors from the NSW DII are preparing to wage war against Queensland Fruit Fly in people's backyards.  The wet, humid summer has created perfect conditions for outbreaks in many fruit production areas. Control measures include chemical spraying and releases of sterile fruit flies. http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=79568#SlideFrame_1

Posted 08/03/11 

• The GRDC has produced a video interview with former APVMA Principal Research Scientist, David Loschke to explain the APVMA's new drift regulations and how they will affect grain growers.  Buffer zones, new label restrictions, spraying prohibitions, record keeping and drift reduction technologies will all have a place in the new approach to reducing pesticide drift risk. http://www.apvma.gov.au/videos/01_spray_drift_grdc.php
• Crops adjacent to maturing cotton on the Downs and northern NSW are facing pressure from invading two-spotted mites (TSM). Canopy has been cited as a control option by a QDEEDI anxious to prevent further population flaring from cheap OP options such as dimethoate. http://thebeatsheet.com.au/mungbeans/mites-invade-mungbeans/
• Modern communication techniques are being used in the USA to help reduce off-target spray damage of sensitive crops. In a proactive approach that takes Australia's Cottonmap a step further, Indianna's Purdue University has developed a web based approach, Driftwatch, which connects mid-western growers of susceptible, or organic, crops with spray applicators. Growers of susceptible crops register the locations of their fields in a centrally maintained database. Spray applicators are also asked to register and consult the website before spraying. Email alerts are also sent when new fields are added to the database. www.driftwatch.org
• The GRDC has funded the development of an online tool by the NSW DII using data from the Qld Climate Change Centre of Excellence that helps farmers analyse climate information for their specific location throughout NSW, Qld, Vic and SA. It breaks up the cropping cycle into 5 sections to assist in planning and management decisions throughout the entire season. Access it at http://cropmate/agriculture.nsw.gov.au

Posted 28/01/11

• The summer edition of the CRDC's Spotlight on Cotton R&D, says that poor root condition following flooding means crops may struggle for water once the sun and heat returns, despite a near full moisture profile. The shallow root system that has tried to avoid the anaerobic conditions below will dry out rapidly in the heat. In these circumstances, an irrigation may be required very soon after the rain stops. For more information contact paul.grundy@deedi.qld.gov.au.
• Russian Wheat Aphid (RWA) poses a significant biosecurity risk to Australian cereal crops. An ability to rapidly evolve new saliva proteins is a key step in the process that leads to RWA overcoming the self protection mechanisms of resistant plants.  Initially the saliva proteins trigger a response in the plant which shuts down the area of the plant under attack. Without a supply of sap, the aphids look elsewhere for food. However, RWA can evolve new proteins which the plant does not recognise and so its defences are overcome. This can happen in as little as four to five years. www.grdc.com.au/UM00029.
• In a study of conventional and Bollgard cotton modules from the Namoi valley in 2007, researchers found only very low levels of pesticides, all well below the 0.5mg/ka upper limit set for pesticide residues in textile toys. Of 350 samples from conventional modules, only 40 contained any residue, while residues were only found in 2 Bollgard module samples. (Australian Cottongrower Dec 2010-Jan 2011)

Posted 22/12/10

• The yield from this season's Australian record cotton plant of over 665,000ha is ironically being threatened by record rains throughout the districts. Management decisions following flooding of a cotton crop can make the difference between a highly profitable season and one you'd rather forget. For some advice go to Cotton Australia's December 15 edition of cotton matters. http://www.cottonaustralia.com.au/news/view.aspx?id=476
• The joint 2011 American Phytopathology Society/International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences meeting in Honolulu in August will include a session on the developing crisis in international movement of insects and pathogens in commercial trade.  The session is designed to highlight inconsistencies in quarantine policies around the world that are either too lax or too restrictive.  Policies need to be based on sound science to ensure trade is not unnecessarily regulated but at the same time offer adequate protection from alien pest invasions. In particular, the session will focus on seed, plants for planting and woody material trade.  http://www.apsnet.org/meetings/annual/program/Pages/SpecialSessions.aspx

• More than half the decisions to spray for mirids in cotton have been taken when the population is below threshold.  The CSIRO's Dr. Mary Whitehouse has shown that doing so offers no yield benefits and can in fact reduce profit margins following resprays later in the season.  Spraying with the wrong chemical can also flare silverleaf whitefly. Read more in the CRDC's spring 2010 'Spotlight' edition. http://www.crdc.com.au/emags/2010_Sept_Spotlight_CRDC/#/14/

Posted 15/11/10

• Green peach aphids (Myzus persicae) are showing signs of resistance to pirimicarb in Western Australia. While resistance to this pesticide is well established in places like New Zealand, this is the first time it has been detected in Australia. With resistance in this species already to Ops and SPs, this finding is disturbing. Read more in edition 12, Nov 3, 2010 of PestFacts South Eastern. http://cesarconsultants.com.au/services/pest-facts.html
• Surviving Helicoverpa spp. larvae in chickpea crops may present a problem in crops planted following.  This may be exacerbated by cool wet weather which slows down the rate of crop dry down, providing a refuge between crops for the survivors. More on this matter at http://thebeatsheet.com.au
• Following a full risk assessment by DSEWPC, the APVMA has announced the cancellation of the registration of the insecticide endosulfan.  The five products containing endosulfan registered in Australia will be phased out over the next 2 years. http://www.apvma.gov.au/news_media/media_releases/2010/mr2010-12.php
  
  
  Posted 22/10/2010  

 

• There are 2 key factors in the development of outbreak levels of silverleaf whitefly (SWF) in cotton - how hot the season is and the size of the initial SWF population in the crop. You can't control the first one but there is plenty you can do to minimise the second. The QDEEDI Beat sheet blog tells you more http://thebeatsheet.com.au/
• Glyphosate has become such a core agronomic tool that the last thing the cropping industry needs is the development of widespread weed resistance to it. Knowledge is the key to managing the rate of resistance development and QDEEDI has built a web based tool that will not only test your current knowledge on the subject, but also tell you how you can improve it and give you the opportunity to rate the risks your current weed management practices present in terms of glyphosate resistance development.  http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/asp/glyphosate-resistance-toolkit.htm

Posted 11/10/2010

• Hatchings of Australian Plague Locust nymphs commenced in early September in northern New South Wales and in mid-September in South Australia, northern Victoria and western and central west New South Wales. The October-November outlook is for the nymphal infestation of locusts to continue and be followed by swarm formation beginning in late October in northern areas, through to late November in southern infested areas in South Australia and Victoria. The plague situation, where numerous regions across several states are affected by high densities of locusts, could continue during summer if there is a high level of nymphal survival in spring. For the latest visit http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts/current.  
• Regular monitoring for crop aphids should now have commenced, as the onset of warm spring conditions will favour rapid population growth. Monitoring should include checking representative parts of the paddocks and also any patches of wilted or stunted growth. A recommended method is to start at the crop edge and proceed into the crop in a random 'W' pattern. Inspect at least five points in the paddock and look for aphids on a minimum of 20 plants at each point.  http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/144989/PestFacts__Issue_8_2010.pdf
• The Murray-darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released for public consultation the first stage document in the process of establishing a long term plan. http://www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan
• Read the latest ABARE Water and Commodity Price Update at  http://www.abare-brs.gov.au/publications/weekly-australian-climate-water-and-commodity-price-update

Posted 10/9/2010

• A GRDC IPM project will investigate the effectiveness of conventional and alternative pest management techniques, involving traditional practices using insecticides and IPM strategies for pest biology, and measure the economic, environmental and social impact. More from the GRDC.