FARMING: Integrated pest and disease management

About the project – Reducing plastics and chemicals in NSW’s cut flower industry

In early 2021, severe storms and floods across NSW caused widespread damage to many agricultural regions; this included the contamination of waterways with plastics and agricultural chemicals. In response, the NSW cut flower industry identified a need for greater support to help growers adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.

To address this challenge, RMCG Consultancy worked collaboratively with key industry groups, including Flower Growers Group of NSW, Protected Cropping Australia and WildFlowers Australia and the Sustainable Floristry Network to:

• Raise awareness of sustainable best practices
• Reduce the use of single-use plastics and chemicals in flower production
• Build resilience against natural disasters and the effects of a changing climate.

Through targeted education, extension activities and industry collaboration, this project resulted in of a wide variety of online resources that will be of interest to both Australian flower farmers, as well as growers internationally. The page below highlights some of the videos made by the SFN for the project, as well links to further resources hosted on the RMCG website.

Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM)

As plant pathologist Dr Len Tesoriro explains, IPDM is a “commonsense approach to managing pests and diseases in plants“.

“By combining biological, chemical and cultural strategies, farmers can reduce their dependence on pesticides and herbicides, resulting in wider, long-term benefits for soil health and local ecosystems and leading to healthier and more resilient crops.”

The following video introduces IPDM, explains how it works and looks at the benefits of investing in a holistic approach to tackling pests and diseases.

Grower resources: fact sheets

As part of this project, RMCG developed a suite of fact sheets on common insects, pests and diseases, and best practices for IPDM, plastics and chemical management.

Managing pests in cut flowers – fact sheets

• Aphids
• Leafminers
• Mites
• Scale insects
• Thrips
• Whiteflies

Managing diseases in cut flowers – fact sheets

• Fusarium
• Grey mould
• Phytophthora
• Rhizoctonia
• Rust

IPDM and chemical management – fact sheets

• Biosecurity 101
• Chemical control of insect pests
• Managing pests and diseases using an IPDM approach

Banker plants and chemical resistance in cut flowers

This webinar explores practical ways to boost beneficial insect populations and manage pests more sustainably on a flower farm. It includes two recent case studies on banker plants in capsicums and cut flowers, identifying suitable host plants to help grow predatory insect populations and reduce key pests. It then discusses chemical resistance, how it develops and practical strategies to reduce the risk of it developing on farm.

The session ends with an open Q&A with presenters Dr Bernardo O’Connor, Dr Robert Spooner-Hart and Camilla Humphries.

Webinar series: Introduction to crop monitoring

This series aims to help cut flower growers in NSW develop effective crop monitoring programs. Over four modules, we explain why you should be monitoring your crops, how to develop a monitoring plan, and useful tools for implementation. Hosted by Andy Ryland, IPM consultant, and Robert Spooner-Hart, Professor of Applied Entomology at Western Sydney University.

Module 1: Monitoring basics

A good monitoring program can give you peace of mind. It can also save money by ensuring that resources are not wasted on pests or other problems that aren’t actually there. This module details how a monitoring program enables you to identify specific problems, and their solutions, and demonstrates the use of basic tools that can be used for effective monitoring.

Module 2: Developing a monitoring plan

Who? What? When? Where? How? This module details the development of an effective monitoring plan; from the times of year to monitor crops, to those who should be involved, and how to record data which accurately captures the crop area and the life stages of pests and other insects.

Module 3: Monitoring aids

While aids don’t replace monitoring, there are multiple tools which can assist in identification of pests and their development through crop. This module is an overview of monitoring aids and how to use them, including: sticky traps, pheromone lures, soil moisture meters and light traps.

Module 4: Next steps

Recording your monitoring data is essential. In this final module, we discuss the importance of capturing the full picture of crop monitoring: when a strategy is successful, partially successful, or not effective at all.