Globally, there are more than 580 documented cases of invertebrate pests evolving resistance to one or more of 325 unique chemicals.
In Australia, the grains industry has a level of ongoing reliance on limited control methods for insect pests, particularly cheaper broad-spectrum chemistries.
The ‘Supporting the sustainable use of insecticides and local on-farm implementation of integrated pest management strategies in the GRDC southern region’ project funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is a three-year project BCG are involved in.
BCG researcher, Kelly Angel, explained this project will assist growers in the southern region to better understand insecticide resistance on their farm.
“The project investigates the sustainable use of insecticides and integrated pest management strategies to provide relevant and up-to-date information to growers in the southern regions,” Ms Angel said.
With collaboration from leading industry experts, the project will provide growers with relevant and practical information to help with pest management going forward.
Ms Angel will be presenting on the integrated pest management topic at the BCG Trials Review Day on 15 February at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre.
The presentation will highlight the process of resistance development, pests with current known resistance and practical management strategies.
“Insecticide resistance is an increasing issue and this trend is likely to continue in the absence of significant practice change,” Ms Angel said.
“It is known as the insecticide treadmill, and due to the nature of genes and mutation, selection of beneficial traits, and often short invertebrate generation times an increase in resistance is expected without change.”
Herbicide resistance is a problem that growers are more likely to be familiar with, which is limited in some cases by herbicide options. This is a challenge with insecticides too and therefore insecticide resistance could be an increasing occurrence without more sustainable practices put in place.
Ms Angel said, “sustainable pest management strategies are required for the stewardship of newer and older chemistries used in grains.”
The BCG Trials Review Day is a members-only event. Lunch, refreshments and a copy of the 2018 BCG Season Research Results compendium are provided. Non-BCG members can purchase memberships prior to, or on the day.
For more information about the BCG Trials Review Day visit the website at www.bcg.org.au or phone the office on (03) 5492 2787.
This article was published in the Stock and Land, 7 February 2019.
