Learnings from NY17009: Improving Pest Management in the Nursery Industry
Over the past three years, Greenlife Industry Australia have completed a nursery levy funded project by Hort Innovation and the Australian Government aimed at improving pest management in the nursery industry.
Pressure has been growing on production nurseries to utilise currently available pesticides in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. There has been a recent market driven trend to remove Neonicitinoid pesticides, such as Confidor, from use for one key retail supply channel, with a flow on effect to other channels. This trend is unlikely to reduce over time, meaning action is required now. Adoption of best management practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) are seen as the most effective strategy to satisfy management of emerging pest issues whilst also addressing environmental and social responsibilities.
A key project focus required evaluation of the economic benefit of adopting a structured crop monitoring system in production nurseries. Project partner Acadian Analysis Services gathered baseline data in Year 1 of the project, including all current costs associated with pest and disease management, including labour, pesticides costs as well as throw-outs/discards due to pest and disease. During Year 2 of the project, a second project partner Biological Services carried out a structured crop monitoring program on a regular basis at each of the 7 participant nurseries nationwide. In essence this process followed the 4 basic principles of BioSecure HACCP pest management, Site Surveillance, Import Inspection, Dispatch Inspection, and importantly, Crop Monitoring.
After 12 months of structured crop monitoring, data was then collected and compared with Year 1. The industry had some unprecedented events occur through these 2 years with drought followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by booming sales. This influenced certain aspects of the cost benefit analysis however some key findings were established.
- All growers have a better understanding of the beneficial organisms available and how to manage them
- All growers have an increased education and understanding of identifying key pests, diseases and beneficial organisms
- All growers have expanded the pesticide suite and now also include some ‘softer’ options that work well with beneficials and an IPM system
- All growers report that the use of beneficials is better for staff, the workplace and the environment
- Growers have reported reduction in pest and disease discards by 12%, 14% and 16%
- A grower reported pesticide costs went up by 18%, however labour was reduced by 15% and the total cost of pest and disease management was reduced by 10%
- Predators can provide a significant advantage over spraying as they can be released very quickly, anytime, and doesn't restrict the area afterwards due to hazardous substances, which equates to labour savings and easier organizing of staff
- Belief that after staff are fully trained in monitoring, benefits from monitoring will increase further over time
- All growers will continue to adopt a structured crop monitoring system
This reflects positively on the data GIA has collected from growers implementing the critical IPM procedures under BioSecure HACCP that have seen productivity growth at around 5% or more supported by reduced product losses, more product to sell and crops are ready to fill orders on schedule.
The project outcomes make it clear that production nurseries require continual education on how to incorporate an effective IPM program. The confidence gained by the 7 participant nurseries throughout the project is obvious as they all now plan to retain the structured crop monitoring system used within the project moving forward. That’s a positive endorsement!
The project determined that when adopting a structured crop monitoring program, production nurseries saved both time and money in the long term. Identification of emerging pest and disease issues early, coupled with enterprise specific thresholds and actions drives a process of informed decision making. Targeted application of the right pesticides at key moments in a pest’s lifecycle, matched with introduction of best-fit beneficial organisms and backed by ongoing use of ‘softer’ pesticide options, when applicable, positions the production nursery to manage both the pest and disease issue and their broader environmental responsibility.
More information is available in the Final Report for project NY17009. This report will be available on the Hort Innovation website.
