vegetables

46
R&D
Farm Productivity,
Resource Use
& Management
Minor Use Awareness Program:
Latest news
MINOR USE HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE AUSTRALIAN VEGETABLE
INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY AS INTEGRATED CROP PROTECTION AND INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD. THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS
HOW MINOR USE WORKS WITH THESE SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES.
Integrated Crop Protection
(ICP) and Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) are terms
that are gaining wider use
across the horticultural industry.
As consumers and markets
expect less chemical use with
higher volumes of produce,
this means that ICP/IPM are
important for the future of
vegetable farming.
While older ‘hard’ chemicals
are slowly being phased out,
new chemicals are usually
‘softer’ as they enter the market.
‘Soft’ chemicals specifically
target the pests, leaving
several of the beneficial insects
behind. These beneficials can
then continue keeping pest
populations under control.
There are current R&D
projects dedicated to ICP
and IPM, run by Applied
Horticultural Research and
RM Consulting Group, which
highlight the use of chemicals,
beneficial insects and provide
resources for growers to
become better involved in ICP.
Access to appropriate ‘soft’
chemicals for use in ICP/
IPM and organic practices is
important for the industry. For
some pest issues, there are
limited or no control options
for growers using these
practices. While the use of
ICP/IPM will reduce the use
of pesticides as a whole, it
doesn’t remove the need for
chemical control entirely.
Therefore, gaining access
to newer, softer chemistry to
control these issues will in
turn improve access for
control to the industry.
Chemistry specific for these
situations can be requested to
ensure the continued supply
of quality vegetable produce to
market. Chemical companies
are more supportive of label
extensions while they still
control the data of the active
chemical, and have the only
product on the market, which
can make the application easier.
To understand the needs of
the industry and the needs
of different groups within the
industry, communication and
involvement are key. The Minor
Use Prioritisation Strategy needs
input and involvement to better
represent vegetable growers
and the industry as a whole.
To be involved, AUSVEG
must understand what the
on-farm needs are. This can
be done by joining the Minor
Use Database. If you would
like to join the Database,
you can request a form from
the Minor Use and Agronomy
Coordinator by emailing
minoruse@ausveg.com.au.
All details provided for the
Database are kept confidential.
i
For more information or to
request any of the minor
use forms, please contact
AUSVEG Minor Use and
Agronomy Coordinator on 03
9882 0277, email minoruse@
ausveg.com.au or visit
ausveg.com.au/minoruse.
The Minor Use Awareness
Program has been funded
by Horticulture Innovation
Australia Limited using the
National Vegetable Levy and
funds from the Australian
Government.
Project Number: VG13096