As part of a major National effort in 2014 to measure stored grain insect resistance to phosphine and other chemicals, Jim Moran from the Victorian DEPI will visit farms in Victoria to collect insects in and around grain storages.
The project is funded by the National CRC for Plant Biosecurity through grain grower levies and will benchmark insect resistance distribution and frequency around Australia.
It is hoped to collect 100 insects per farm of various species and each will be tested for phosphine resistance and possibly some of the grain protectants.
There is a limit of 150 farms to have insects collected and tested throughout Victoria.
If you would like insect samples collected from your property to test for chemical resistance, please contact Jim Moran. It’s first in best dressed.
Once on site, the sampling process will be explained and the farmer will be asked questions about the commodity stored, pesticides used and about any pest problems.
All visits and results are confidential. Free biosecurity and grain storage information will be provided.
