East Gippsland landholders will soon have the opportunity to deepen their pest management knowledge through two
workshops led by leading entomologists
Dr Paul Horne and Rebecca Addison from IPM Technologies.
The workshops are at Genoa on Tuesday, April 29 and Orbost on Wednesday, April 30.
Each session will be tailored to address local pest pressures and soil health.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a widely adopted approach in Australia and globally for managing agricultural pests.
IPM combines all appropriate pest control strategies, combining knowledge of pest life cycles and their environmental interactions.
It focuses on cultural practices and biological controls, using pesticides only when necessary to ensure a more balanced and sustainable way to protect crops.
As some pesticides become unavailable and resistance in pest species increases, now is the ideal time for farmers to adopt IPM strategies for both familiar and emerging threats.
The aim is to reduce chemical reliance, support beneficial species and improve long-term outcomes for crops, pastures, and the broader environment.
The Genoa workshop will identify harmful and beneficial insects in and above the soil. Paul and Rebecca will discuss pests such as slugs, snails, and red-legged earth mites alongside strategies for maintaining healthy soils and developing pest management plans suited to local conditions.
In Orbost, the focus will shift to the persistent challenges of slugs and the African Black
Beetle (ABB). Often mistaken for cockchafers, ABB typically appear earlier in the season and are usually found on or just beneath the soil surface.
Both larvae and adults feed on pastures and cereal crops, threatening a wide range of horticultural crops and long-term pasture systems.
The economic impact of ABB infestations can be significant. Management options include delaying autumn sowing to disrupt their life cycle and using insecticide seed treatments to reduce early crop damage.
Dr Horne, who has previously worked in
the region, will share practical strategies to help mitigate damage and support long-term pest control.
Dr Horne and Ms Addison have more than 25 years of experience developing and implementing IPM programs in Australia and internationally.
Their work covers various crops, including vegetables, cut flowers, broad-acre crops and glasshouse production.
Paul has written several books on insects and IPM (the two most important co-authored with Jessica Page) and guidebooks to insects in potato and brassica crops in Australia.
He has published over 70 scientific and conference papers on insects and IPM and many other articles in industry literature.
For his work, he has received awards from the Australian Vegetable Industry and the World Potato Congress.
Both workshops are free to attend, but places are limited, and bookings are essential.
To reserve a spot, contact Emma Orgill at Landcare in Orbost.
These sessions are an excellent opportunity for local farmers to strengthen their existing pest management strategies while gaining awareness of emerging threats that may be on the horizon.
