The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) workshops series is underway, providing practical advice to growers and production staff on how to manage pest insects and mites.

Delivered by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), four workshops have already been held throughout June in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Mildura – seeing great industry engagement and attendance, and more than 120 nursery production workers heading to their local event.

Attendees were educated on alternative ways to manage pests, and ‘tried and true’ IPM techniques that can have a very positive impact on both plant production and pest management.

Feedback from these events provided some interesting insights on attitudes towards pest management. Attendees shared their increased preference to implement IPM practices and reduce reliance on pesticide applications; viewing IPM as a viable alternative for production businesses.

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Levy funded projects are working to promote the establishment and maintenance of greenlife in our homes, businesses, and wider communities.

To support this, Plant Life Balance has released two new looks and have hosted their third consumer-facing event – bringing together speakers from various green backgrounds to share their passion for plants and provide some helpful tips.

New Plant Life Balance Looks!

From man’s best friend to outdoor oasis – these new looks provide a bit of inspiration for how greenlife can be incorporated into your home and workplace.  More

Name: Phoma blight, Phoma spp.

Species of Phoma can infect a wide range of vegetable and ornamental crops including conifers, Clematis, Vinca minor, chrysanthemum, sunflower, ash, cedar, fennel, coriander, aloe vera, citrus, papaya, mango, coffee, onion, crucifers, celery, beets, tomato, grevillea and capsicum.

Symptoms: 

A variety of symptoms can be produced depending on host and pathogen species.  Phoma species can cause chlorosis and necrosis of foliage, tip dieback, defoliation and seedling damping off.  In some hosts, the pathogen can also cause stem blight and cankers, as well as root rot, crown rot and fruit rot.  The pathogen produces fruiting bodies (pycnidia) on dead tissue, which exude spores in a sticky matrix. More

The RD&E program for the control, eradication and preparedness of vegetable leafminer (MT16004) continues to improve the identification and detection of vegetable leafminer in Australia. Led by research provider, cesar, the project aims to raise awareness and protect against the spread of vegetable leafminer throughout Australia’s key growing regions.

First detected in 2015, the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) is a pest capable of infesting a variety of horticultural crops in Australia. The fly inhibits plant growth by laying eggs inside plant leaves and stems, while maggots tunnel within and create tracks or mines, which get bigger as they grow.

The industry impact of the vegetable leafminer could be significant, such as reducing the plant’s market value, and creating stricter import and domestic trade restrictions in areas of Australia where the pest is absent.

The project team has conducted a series of leafminer damage surveillance trials in order to measure the detectability of leafmines in crops. The first of the mock trials were held in Victoria last year, bringing together growers, agronomists, and wider industry professionals to undertake short survey walks of crop rows where simulated leafmines were hidden.

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The 2019 Hort Masterclass is fast approaching the halfway mark!

Described as a mini-MBA, the course is an intensive 10-month professional development program for those looking to accelerate their careers within horticulture.

The course is delivered by the University of Tasmania, with input from international research providers. Every years, it brings together more than 30 individuals across Australian horticulture, including five from the nursery industry in 2019.

This year’s cohort will complete Term 2 on June 30, followed by a short break before their next face-to-face workshop in Brisbane on Friday, 12 July. Here, the group will tour Rocklea Brisbane Markets, before travelling to the Sunshine Coast to visit several horticultural businesses. The tour will finish with a workshop at the SurfAir Conference facilities, where selected students will present on their chosen assignments

One of the students selected was production supervisor at Yarralumla Nursery, Nathan Wells, who will present on his nursery gross margins assignment. More