We held our first IPM and insect identification pest management workshop in Wagga Wagga on the 19th August. We had about 18 participants including growers and consultants. Everyone was very pleased with the I-SPY manual which should provide a valuable resource for those wishing to identify the pests and beneficials in broad acre grains crops. We plan to hold a few more of these workshops throughout the course of the project.
Jo Holloway (I&I NSW) demonstrating the use of the suction sampler
Phil Bowden (I&I NSW) showing participants the catch
We (Mick Neave and I) recently spent a few nights in Toowoomba QLD as part of the first project meeting for the ‘Pest suppressive landscapes’ project (funded by GRDC). Amongst other activities we went on a quick tour of the grain growing region around near Toowoomba to examine potential sites for this project and had a go at beat sheeting for invertebrates in native vegetation patches. Many thanks to the QLD team members for their hospitality.
Nancy, Felix and Dave selecting a shrub to beat
Nancy using her 'shaking' method to collect invertebrates onto the beat sheet
