Improved IPM systems in the Australian sweet corn industry (VG05035)
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Introduction
This project, proposed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, was facilitated by by Horticulture Australia (HAL) in partnership with AUSVEG and was funded by the vegetable levy, with voluntary contributions from Bayer CropScience, DuPont Agricultural Products and Sumitomo Chemical Australia. The Australian Government provides matched funding for all HAL's R&D activities. This project will build on the very successful project 'Insect Pest Management in Sweet Corn' (VG97036) by focussing on the broader range of pests and diseases, and their management in an IPM context.
Objective
To improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems currently being used in the Australian sweet corn industry.
Timeframe: 01/11/2005 to 30/04/2008
Project description
Background
In 1995, the Australian sweet corn industry produced 73,000 tonnes with an on-farm value of $30.5 million (ABS 1995). This is estimated to have increased to 89,877 t worth $50.9m in 2001 and 80,467 t worth $52.7m in 2002 (ABS 2002). There have been some changes in the industry since 2001, mainly in increases in plantings for the fresh market and decreases in plantings for processors in Queensland.
The Australian sweet corn industry has widely adopted the outcomes of the IPM Project VG97036, which concentrated on managing heliothis, the main pest of sweet corn at the time.
A result of the success of the heliothis IPM strategy is that a range of secondary pests (aphids, mites, thrips) have become major pests because the sweet corn industry, especially in Queensland, is largely using narrow spectrum insecticides for heliothis management. A similar situation has occurred in other cropping systems (cotton, brassica vegetables, tomatoes), where secondary pests once easily controlled by broad spectrum insecticides have become more important as more biologically based IPM systems have been widely adopted.
Some of these secondary pests reduce sweet corn yields, others are contaminants in product destined for domestic and export markets. The effects are product rejection, downgrading and/or reduced $ returns, and reduced marketable yields.
The need to manage 'secondary' pests and diseases whilst maintaining and/or improving heliothis management was identified by the sweet corn industry in May 2001 at the completion of VG97036.
Project activities
1. Soft options assessment
Soft options (narrow spectrum pesticides) are an important element of IPM systems. Some narrow spectrum pesticides are available to the team through the chemical companies Bayer, DuPont and Sumitomo. This activity will assess their fit into an IPM strategy and provide some efficacy data to enable these companies to proceed, if appropriate, with registration in sweet corn in Australia.
There is potential to incorporate the management of the range of sweet corn pests using a range of options which are currently used in the management of heliothis. In some cases, the appropriate use of chemical control of the range of 'secondary' pests may not interfere with the biological system being used for controlling heliothis due to the pests being present at different times. The biological system currently used for heliothis management can also help control a range of other pests, such as thrips and aphids for example, due to the activities of predatory insects. The key to successfully managing heliothis and these other pests is knowledge of the level of each pest in the crop through monitoring and the availability and timely implementation of effective management tools including soft options.
2. Communication
Project outcomes will be promoted to stakeholders via the IDO Network, field-days, farm walks and information sheets and a web site.
Team members in some of the major growing regions will conduct publicity campaigns before running field-days and other activities which will promote the project outcomes.
A Steering Committee will be formed from stakeholders in the sweet corn industry. This group will guide the project team on work plans and the communication of outcomes.
3. Best Management Options
A strategy which was very successful in the previous sweet corn IPM project, was the development and assessment of Best Management Options (BMO's). BMO's, are practical strategies and include a broad range of appropriate pest management options including:
- strategic application of narrow spectrum and biological pesticides
- improved pesticide application techniques
- monitoring and recording procedures (for pests, diseases and beneficial insects)
- protection of naturally occurring and inundatively released beneficial insects
- work place health and safety aspects of pest and disease management.
These BMO's will be the basis of trials comparing the IPM outcomes of BMO's with grower practice.
Through the use of the BMO concept, any relevant information can be formulated into a strategy, tested and incorporated very rapidly into commercial practice, because of the close relationship between sweet corn growers, consultants and researchers in the regions. This will enable new techniques and products to be rapidly implemented in commercial sweet corn operations.
4. Monitoring pests, diseases and beneficial organisms
Monitoring (scouting) of insect pests, diseases and beneficial organisms is a critical component of all IPM systems. Protocols for monitoring are necessary to assist growers and consultants make improved IPM decisions. IPM uses field specific information and improved decision making to protect crop yield and quality while minimising the risks associated with pesticide use. If knowledge about pest and disease occurrence and activity is not available informed and appropriate IPM decisions are difficult to make and implement.
5. Information development
As well as the range of communication tools being used to promote the outcomes of this project, information packages will be produced by team members specific to the pest, disease and production systems for each region. These will be available through the distribution systems utilised by the regional team members and the IDO network.
This information will be published as DPI or Dept of Agriculture Farm Notes which are two to four pages of concise information on a specific topic, and can be easily and cost effectively updated and distributed.
Project summary
Aim
Improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems currently being used for the management of a range of 'secondary pests' whilst maintaining or improving heliothis management in the Australian sweet corn industry.
Strategy
- establish a project steering committee of industry stakeholders and project team members
- assess new 'soft options', as additional components of IPM, for managing a range of sweet corn pests
- improve monitoring protocols for the range of sweet corn pests and diseases
- identify naturally occurring beneficials
- develop and test IPM strategies through Best Management Options (BMO's)
- disease surveys of main growing areas
- develop and test disease management options
- promote project outcomes and disseminate information to the industry through the IDO Network, farm-walks and other appropriate means.
Outputs and outcomes
- industry access to IPM technologies and information products e.g. IPM Information sheets on specific issues, with both regional and whole-of-industry focus
- integration of 'soft options' for secondary pests which compliment and/or improve heliothis management
- better understanding of disease management options
- monitoring protocols for the wide range of pests and beneficial organisms developed and used in industry
- a further reduction in the use of broad spectrum pesticides in the Australian sweet corn industry
- increasing ease of access to markets (domestic and export).
Project team
Principal researcher
| Peter Deuter | Senior Principal Horticulturist; Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries |
Team members
| Sonia Broughton | Entomologist; Department of Agriculture Western Australia |
| Tony Napier | District Horticulturist; NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| Sandra McDougall | Technical Specialist (Vegetables); NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| Andrew Watson | Research Officer; NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| Leigh James | District Horticulturist, NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| John Duff | Entomologist; Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries |
| Jerry Lovatt | Senior Information Extension Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries |
| Siva Subramaniam | Entomologist; Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries |
| Ross Wright | Senior Horticulturist; Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries |
DPI&F information and services
- To access DPI&F's information and services, Queensland residents can contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for the cost of a local call. The Business Information Centre is open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays); E-mail callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au. Non-Queensland residents phone (07) 3404 6999.
- Current national information on agricultural chemicals registered for use on all crops is available on the Infopest CD-ROM. Write to DPI&F, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Qld 4001, E-mail infopest@dpi.qld.gov.au, visit the Infopest web page, or phone (07) 3239 3967 for further information.
Industry links
- Industry links is a page of links to various sites of interest to horticultural growers.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the support of this project by the following organisations.
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Last updated 24 May 2007
