Farmers in the Wimmera and Mallee have been told to include the Russian wheat aphid in future pest management plans as the previously exotic pest is here to stay.
The pest was initially discovered in South Australia on May 13, and has since been confirmed in the Wimmera, West Wimmera and Southern Mallee, particularly in early sown crops and uncontrolled volunteer cereals.
Authorities have now declared the Russian wheat aphid endemic, with eradication not deemed feasible.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinarian Medicines Authority (APVMA) has issued emergency use permits for chlorpyrifos at 1.2L/ha and pirimicarb at 200-250g/ha. These high pesticide rates are under review.
BCG research manager Claire Browne said growers should monitor the aphid situation in paddocks but not to jump into spraying without first considering the size of the aphid population, the likelihood of crop damage and the impact on beneficial insect populations.
“Non-selective insecticides such as chlorpyrifos will have an impact on beneficials as well as aphids,” she said.
Ms Browne said it was important that growers try to preserve beneficial insect populations where possible as they would be crucial for longer term aphid management.
“Use thresholds as a guide for spraying,” she said.
“The current recommendation is to spray with 20 per cent of plants are infected up until tillering. After tillering the spraying trigger point is when 10 per cent of plants are infected.”
An update on the Russian wheat aphid situation and a broader discussion about biosecurity and the reporting of exotic pests will be delivered at the BCG Future Farmers Expo at Birchip on July 6.
Victorian grains industry biosecurity officer Jim Moran and Agriculture Victoria grains pathologist Luise Sigel will lead the discussion.
Mr Moran, who is part of a National Grains Industry Biosecurity program, will inform farmers about the risks of exotic pests and diseases and offer tips on biosecurity practices that help to reduce these risks.
Ms Sigel, will update the audience on the spread and management of Russian wheat aphid, providing advice on identification of the pest and what to do if you think your paddock is infected.
There will be a range of other presentations held at the 2016 BCG Future Farmers Expo including a panel discussion about farm enterprise mix, the climate outlook, a demonstration of precision agriculture use on-farm, a farm board case study and an information session about expanding the farm and off-farm investments.
The Expo will run from 11am to 5.30pm on July 6 and will be followed by BCG’s annual industry dinner which this year is being catered for by the Birchip P-12 School’s hospitality students to raise funds to construct a school in rural Cambodia.
Entry to the Expo is free for BCG members and $50 for non-members. Tickets for the Expo dinner are $50 and can be purchased by phoning BCG on (03) 5492 2787 or visiting the BCG website at www.bcg.org.au.
The article was published in the Stock and Land newspaper on June 30, 2016.
