Pest monitoring worked
From the April 2009 edition of Agriculture Today.
Cowra farmers John and Janet Leigh say an integrated pest management (IPM) exercise on their farm eliminated the need for chemicals which, during drought, might have caused economically significant damage to crops.
A two-year IPM monitoring program in four pasture and crop paddocks containing lucerne, canola and wheat started in April 2007 on their property, “Nandewah”, with help from NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) research officer Elizabeth Makonnen, in consultation with IPM Technology, Victoria.
Weekly insect collection from pitfall traps and sticky tapes were submitted to NSW DPI’s scientific collection unit at Orange Agricultural Institute for identification.
The analysis was then communicated to the Leighs to help them make informed decisions.
The most important pests of interest were red-legged earth mite, blue oat mites, aphids and lucerne fleas.
Beneficial insects found to be preying on them included parasitic wasps, wolf spiders and predatory mites.
Other beneficials were present, though not in large numbers.
“In 2008 monitoring continued on two previously monitored paddocks and the result, compared to the previous year, showed the number of pests were lower than the number of beneficial insects,” Elizabeth Makonnen said.
“This was an indicator that chemical free management had boosted the number of beneficial insects.”
According John Leigh, if it was not for IPM he might have used insecticide at the first appearance of pests.
There is a growing interest from stockholders who would like to introduce IPM to their properties.
“A better understanding of IPM in the broad farming community is imperative for a sustainable environmental outcome,” Ms Makonnen said.
She says further funding for IPM studies is required, to add some modelling and comparison trials between heavy chemical users and those who rely on IPM.
The project was funded by Western Region Grain and Graze.
“Reliance on knowledge, experience, observation and integration of multiple techniques make IPM a perfect method in organic food as well as in pasture production,” she said.
“IPM can be equally applied to both agriculture (large and small farms) and home gardens.”
Contact Elizabeth Makonnen, Trangie, (02) 6880 8056, elizabeth.makonnen@dpi.nsw.gov.au or John Leigh, Cowra, (02) 6345 3200, phezulu@bigpond.com
