Integrated benefits
From the December 2008 edition of Agriculture Today.
Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are paying off in greenhouses and some vegetable field crops but more data is required to overcome constraints to adoption in broadacre.
IPM lends itself to a greenhouse environment.
Globally, 85 per cent of pest control by biological agents occurs in greenhouses, attributable particularly to the area they cover in Europe.
A wealth of information is available on greenhouse techniques in Australia.
In NSW, canola is one broadacre crop which can benefit from IPM, according to NSW Department of Primary Industries district agronomist, Phil Bowden, pictured here inspecting for insects at Wallendbeen, between Cootamundra and Young.
Whilst the cotton and citrus industries have been innovative, our broadacre farmers more widely want proof that IPM works before they are likely to incorporate it in their production methods.
Also in this edition
Monitoring for canola insects is critical
Monty millions thumping thrips
