CropLife Australia has updated its resistance management strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, including a newly developed strategy for the fall armyworm.CropLife Australia chief executive officer Matthew Cossey said food crops competed with weeds, plant-eating insects, viruses and fungi — all with the ability to devastate farming operations.
“Farmers must adopt agricultural practices that control pests, while reducing their environmental impact and limiting resistance issues,” Mr Cossey said.“Having an integrated pest management system and an effective resistance management strategy for chemical crop protection products is crucial to the long-term viability and profitability of Australian farming.”
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has approved a number of emergency use permits, to provide protection options against the fall armyworm for a range of crops.Mr Cossey said the fall armyworm had been devastating for many overseas farming sectors and now posed a serious threat to Australian crops.“The plant science industry is focused on providing growers with as many solutions as possible to manage pest incursions — including fall armyworm,” he said.“That’s why we have prepared a fall armyworm strategy as part of our 2020 resistance management strategies.
“These strategies ensure important crop protection products remain effective tools for farmers.“Growers encountering fall armyworm should utilise the emergency permits approved by the APVMA in line with their integrated pest management strategy.”
The resistance management strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides have been reviewed by scientific technical review committees in consultation with relevant national and international experts.“As part of our stewardship initiatives, CropLife and our members are committed to making resistance management advice freely available,” Mr Cossey said.
“The more farmers adopting this best-practice information, the more sustainable the use of crucial crop protection products for Australia’s farming sector.”The 2020 resistance management strategies are available at: croplife.org.au/resistance-management