The first of Growcom's pest awareness workshops took place in Gympie on Wednesday with fall armyworm on everyone's mind.
More than 30 people, most of them growers in the region crowded into the Cooloola Berries function room to hear from experts about the latest data, technologies and work being done with beneficiaries in the battle against biosecurity threats.
Understandably the most pressing concern for attendees was the outbreak of fall armyworm and the devastating impact the moth is having on the sweetcorn industry, since arriving in Queensland early last year.
Agri-Science Queensland senior entomologist, Dr Siva Subramaniam zoomed into the conference and addressed the feeling of panic in the room.
Dr Subramaniam said that monitoring is the most important practice for concerned growers right now.
"In Queensland we have found that the severely effected crops are sweetcorn, maize and popcorn," he said.
"Bucket traps have been really effective at capturing the moths, using sex pheromone to attract the male moths.
"Fall armyworm has the potential to be endemic if we do not properly protect our sweetcorn industry. Early detection is key to the control of fall armyworm, monitoring with pheromone lure traps combined with regular surveillance of susceptiple crops should be conducted to prevent damage."
Complimenting Dr Subramaniam, entomologist Bugs for Bugs' Paul Jones calmed the nerves of the room explaining the latest successful results predatory bugs are having against fall armyworm.
"Best practice is getting beneficials in before there pest arrives and to implement complementing strategies such as drones and biotech products like Magnet," he said.
"More beneficials means more control, and stops the use of pesticides which prevents pesticide resistance."
Adam Jones from Figtree Farm Organics in said the potential threat of fall army worm is what forced him to attend the event.
"I had heard of entire corn farms getting destroyed, and spotted a few fall armyworm on my kale and really freaked out."
"We operate an organic farm so we don't have the protection of chemicals at hand."
Mr Adam Jones is already using bucket traps to capture the eggs but is now looking at implement further protection.
"It was great hearing about the different approaches, particularly with some of the beneficiary work being done. I'm going to go and have species count in some of our buckets too, because now I know what fall armyworm looks like," Mr Adam Jones said.
Hort360 Facilitator Michelle Haase additionally discussed the benefits of obtaining your Reef Certified through Hort360, with several growers indicated interest in becoming Reef Certified.
Hort360 is a benchmarking tool and resource for horticulture growers to identify inefficiencies, losses and risks in their management practices. Hort360 has valuable online resources for horticulture growers to assist them in managing pest risks and threats like fall armyworm. For more visit www.hort360.com.au.
Two more free workshops will held next week.
Mackay
Monday, 22 March
9:30am - 3:30pm
101 Harris Road, Koumala QLD 4738
Yeppoon
Friday, 26 March
2pm - 6pm
Groves Grown Tropical Fruit, Groves Road, Bungundarra QLD 4703
