Pest workshops

Expert entomologist Sibohan de Little will be in the Wimmera this week to run a series of pest-management workshops for farmers.

Dr de Little, who is a sustainable agriculture specialist with the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, cesar, will lead each of the half-day workshops, focussing on pest-management strategies and practices that can minimise the risk of insecticide resistance.

She will share findings from the latest research and provide growers with an update on insecticide resistance in crop pests, monitoring methods and control methods that work best with beneficial insect populations.

Agriculture Victoria extension officer Heather Drendel, co-ordinating the workshops, will provide farmers with practical advice about tools to effectively manage pests and minimise the risks of insecticide resistance.

“As farming systems change in the Wimmera, so has the spectrum of pest species,” she said.

“Farmers are also faced with the ever-increasing risk of insecticide resistance and need to be on the front foot to minimise the risk of more resistance issues emerging.

“Dr de Little will provide tips on integrated pest management including differentiating pests from beneficial species, as well as information on pests that increase with high stubble loads.”

The four, half-day workshops started yesterday at Kaniva and Woorak and continue today at Wallup Hall from 8.30am and Taylors Lake Hall at 1.30pm.

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority is supporting the workshops through a National Landcare program.