vegetables

22
R&D
Farm Productivity,
Resource Use
& Management
with Scott Mathew
WHEN IT COMES TO FARM HYGIENE, MANY GROWERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF
THE ESSENTIAL ROLE IT PLAYS ALONGSIDE CROP PROTECTION INPUTS. SYNGENTA
TECHNICAL SERVICES LEAD SCOTT MATHEW EXPLAINS HOW GROWERS CAN IMPROVE
THEIR FARM HYGIENE TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE PESTS AND DISEASES.
Throughout the year, I
attend or present at many
meetings on disease, insect or
weed management. In those
meetings, we spend quite a bit
of time discussing how to select
the most suitable agricultural
chemical for disease, insect or
weed control and how to get
the best out of the applications.
However, one factor that
tends to be missed and is an
essential component for use in
conjunction with crop protection
input selection is farm hygiene.
With the identification of virus
movements within the vegetable
industry, farm hygiene has again
become very topical.
Farm hygiene is the practice of
protecting your property against
diseases, insects or weeds by
preventing the introduction and/
or spread of pests and diseases
that may adversely affect your
crop production.
Keeping your land and
farming equipment clean, as
well as preventing or limiting
access to your property by
other vehicles, machinery or
people can help prevent the
introduction of new pests and
diseases to your farm. Also,
keep machinery and
equipment clean when
moving between paddocks.
There are many pests that may
be introduced to your property
or spread between production
areas. The most common ways
in which diseases, insects,
nematodes and weeds can
be easily transferred to your
property include soil clinging
to machinery, vehicles or boots
and plant material such as
seeds, seedlings or mulches.
Viruses can be transferred
by hands or equipment and
insects, such as mites, can
cling to clothing.
There are several ways to limit
the risk of introducing diseases,
insects or weeds onto your
property, including:
Restricting the movement of
machinery, vehicles,
equipment and people both
onto your property and within
your paddocks.
Establishing one delivery
point for all deliveries to
your property.
Placing a sign on the
boundary of your property
asking visitors to visit your
office first. If they need to
proceed further, supply them
with a footbath or boot covers,
for example.
Keeping machinery, vehicles,
clothing and footwear as clean
as possible when moving
between production areas.
Checking any plant material
used. Buy certified seed
and ensure seedlings are
disease-free.
Ensuring visitors to your
property, such as crop
consultants, resellers
or casual workers, take
precautions (i.e. footbaths or
i
clean boots) as they are likely
to have visited several other
properties recently.
Ensuring any
machinery entering your
property is thoroughly
cleaned beforehand.
Removing crop residues that
are known to harbour pests or
diseases as soon as practical.
Learning as much as possible
about the pests on your farm
and the surrounding
properties, as well as any
new pests in your region. The
ability to correctly identify
pests and a thorough
knowledge of their lifecycle
are very useful skills when
planning a hygiene program
for your farm.
The R&D content for this article has been provided to Vegetables Australia
to educate Australian vegetable growers about the most relevant and
practical information on crop protection technologies and their on-farm
applications.
For more information or to ask a question, please contact your local
Syngenta Territory Manager, the Syngenta Advice Line on 1800 067 108,
visit syngenta.com.au or email Vegetables Australia: info@ausveg.com.au.
Please note that your questions may be published.
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia
Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian
Government.
Project Number: VG15027