Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...

Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems Identification Manual and Education Resource © 2012
Area-wide management
(AWM)
What is AWM
Area-wide management (AWM) aims to solve pest
management problems by coordinating the efforts of
growers in an area. AWM can take many forms, from
neighbours discussing how to tackle common pest
problems through to centrally organized groups that
implement a coordinated control tactic. AWM may be
particularly useful for mobile (or transient) pests where
management at a larger-scale may be more effective
than a paddock-by-paddock approach (Figure 5.3).
AWM can also improve our ability to achieve IPM goals.
IPM principles can be applied at the paddock-scale, but
some activities may provide better results if used across
larger areas (Figure 5.4). This is where AWM comes in.
For example the Australian Plague Locust Commission
implements an AWM plan to control locust populations.
These pests are highly mobile, migratory species that
have the ability to inflict damage across a range of
agricultural industries in multiple states. A coordinated
area-specific and time-dependent response to threats
posed by this pest is required. Another example comes
from AWM groups that were developed in response
to cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, problems
in cotton on the Darling Downs in Queensland. AWM
groups had regular meetings before, during and after
the season to share information. Their objective was
to reduce the survival of overwintering insecticideresistant
pupae and reduce damage to susceptible crops
across a region.
The benefits of AWM
AWM can be used to address a number of objectives
relating to pest problems at a regional or district scale.
For certain species, a sustained reduction in pest
populations across time is more likely to be achieved if
other susceptible crops and pastures surrounding the
paddock are taken into consideration (Figure 5.3). The
same is true for increasing the abundance and activity
of beneficial species. Actions aimed at minimising the
spread and/or development of insecticide resistance,
and the spread of diseases vectored by insect pests are
more likely to provide better long-term results if efforts
are coordinated across neighbouring growers.
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SECTION 5 IPM Principles and Case Studies
For which broadacre pests is AWM
applicable
AWM works best for species that are mobile, migratory, or
capable of being transported large distances. For these
species the home-range of an individual may be much
larger than a single paddock. Control tactics applied at
the paddock-scale may only help for short periods of
time because the species can recolonise quickly.
There are species that have lower mobilities, but are still
potential candidates for AWM. Coordinating the timing
of control tactics may have the biggest impact on these
species (e.g. species that may have developed resistance
to insecticides). Table 5.3 is a rough guide that indicates
which pest species are likely candidates for AWM. If
you are experiencing problems with these species you
should consider an AWM approach.
First steps towards AWM
Here is a general guide to the steps involved in
developing an AWM approach.
Step 1. Define the problem
What is the pest problem Is it high abundance
of a pest causing direct damage and yield loss,
or perhaps a pest causing damage at critical
times of crop growth or establishment Is
there control failure that may be linked to pest
resistance to an insecticide
Step 2. Identify the objective
Minimising crop damage and increasing profit
may be the ultimate objective of AWM, but what
are the specific goals of an AWM approach
They may include reducing pest densities over
the long-term, slowing new pest arrivals into
the crop, slowing the spread of insecticide
resistance, stopping disease transmission, or
making sure pests are at low levels during a
critical crop growth stage.
Step 3. Where, when, and how big is the
problem
Identify what crops this pest attacks. Determine
how many growers in the area are experiencing
a similar problem. Examine maps and assess
the location of susceptible crop-types now or
in future plantings, the location of large areas of
other host plants such as pasture or weeds, and
any likely sources of beneficial species.