| The Australian Cotton
Cooperative Research Centre has embarked on a major extension program
involving integrated pest management (IPM).
Details of the program were outlined on the Web On Wednesday video segment
on CSD’s website on the internet (www.csd.net.au) by Bill Dalton,
IPM training coordinator with the CRC and QDPI.
Bill said the program comprised a series of five-day short courses divided
into several segments:
• A two-day conference held indoors in winter;
• An early season field day;
• A further field day later in the cropping season; and,
• A review meeting after harvest.
The short course concept follows three pilot courses held last season
at Trangie in the Macquarie Valley, at the ACRI at Narrabri in the Lower
Namoi, and at Dalby.
Bill said the schedule this season involved eight to 10 courses, starting
in Central Queensland, and moving through Queensland and NSW to the
Hillston region.
“Shortly, we will be distributing an IPM course brochure to every
grower in the industry advising them of the five-day course and its
contents.
“Within the brochure will be an ‘expression of interest’
form they can fill out and return to their local CRC Industry Development
Officer. Basically, we require interest from 12–15 growers,”
Bill said.
The initial two-day conference is attended by research personnel and
comprises a mix of practical exercises and discussion.
Components of the first field day include an examination of early season
pests and beneficials, and some plant mapping as it pertains to that
time of the year.
The latter field day re-examines the complete pest and beneficials complex,
plant mapping, cut-out and final irrigation, in the IPM context.
The review meeting covers a seasonal post mortem, an analysis of actions
taken and their impact and results, and a discussion of the major issues
arising during the season.
Following are some comments from people who attended the pilot courses:
• Peter Schuurs, Millmerran.
“We felt we had to find an alternative way of doing things, apart
from continually bombing our crops with chemicals on a seven to eight
day turnaround. The course helped me gain a much fuller understanding
of what is happening in our crop, and to better manage our crop from
a more holistic point of view.”
• Stuart Higgins, Jandowae.
“I got involved in the course, thinking that there has to be a
better way forward. I think the benefits from it are going back and
speaking to my neighbours that are not involved in the course. It is
a good way for them to find out what the cutting edge researchers are
doing, and it is just a great way to pass the information down through
the farming community.”
• George Nason, Yandilla.
“It’s been a great benefit. I’ve learnt more about
my crop. I’ve lived in my crop more this summer than I ever have
before, and I am able to communicate better with my agronomist as a
result.”
• Andrew Gill, Narromine.
“I think the main things I have got out of it are how IPM can
work, and probably will work, and a lot about plant mapping. I have
also got to know a lot more people around the valley, and seen a lot
more of the valley.”
• Vicki Tuck, Narromine.
“We got a better knowledge of what you are actually looking for
at different stages of the crop, and so we were able to go in there
and make more informed decisions, and be more aware of where our agronomist
was coming from. We were also able to make a better input into the insect
and spray rating that our agronomist was using.”
• Geoff McKay, Warren.
“I did this course because I wanted to have a better understanding
of IPM in most aspects of growing cotton, especially the spraying side
of it, including different spray technologies. I found it very enjoyable,
and a great introduction to IPM.”
• Sue McCutcheon, Narromine.
“Cotton has a reputation of being detrimental to the environment,
so I decided there had to be something to learn. I learnt a heap from
the course. It has been wonderful. It’s really hands-on. I’ve
gained knowledge that probably would have taken me 10 years to gain,
and I’ve gained it in one season.”
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