Cultivated crops are exposed to pressures from pests and the general environment. The impact of these pressures can be reduced by using an integrated approach to crop protection.
Integrated Crop Protection focuses on good decision making and requires consideration of the Crop, Pests, Beneficial organisms, Growing environmen, Farm workers, Market requirements.
The attached 4 page fact sheet (pdf 196 kb) outlines the key principles of Crop Protection including Knowledge, Prevention, Observation & Response.
An introduction to available management options including Physical, Chemical, Genetic and Biological controls, is also provided.
Integration of these principles for your specific crop and pest situation will maximise their benefit.
Key Points :
Integration means combining two or more different management practices that are compatible i.e. practices that work well together, not against each other.
For example, an effective system might include cultural measures, release of beneficial organisms and the use of ‘soft’ pesticides when required to ensure that the beneficial organisms are not harmed.
- Know the history and nature of the pests in the seedling nursery and on your farm.
- Be proactive - aim for prevention rather than eradication.
Don’t wait for a crisis.
- Pests have natural enemies – aim to preserve and increase them.
- Make sanitation on-farm your first priority after worker safety.
- Monitor your crops and growing environment often.
- Record crop and pest observations.
- Review your chemical effectiveness and resistance development.
- Gain confidence in Integrated Control through training, observation and action.
- Seek trusted, qualified advisers to get you started and to assist with implementation.
- Access training in Integrated Control principles for yourself and your staff.
- Use available resources – consultants, researchers, books, factsheets, internet.
- Understand why the ‘integrated’ approach is essential for success.
Use an adviser to get you started
The most appropriate and effective crop protection programs are developed by teams that include growers, and researchers and/or consultants experienced in Integrated Control.
They have specific knowledge and understanding of the stages of crop growth, key threats, impact of environmental conditions, and options available for protecting a crop from adverse events and organisms.
Growers and their advisers recognise prevention is preferable to on-going eradication of pests, and therefore take steps that allow specifically-targeted decisions and actions.
Integrated Control programs are unique to each season, crop and region.
The relative importance of pests varies year-to-year and you and your advisers will become skilled in evaluating the relevance and potential effectiveness of each step and what strategic adjustments are required to ensure continued improvement and timely responses.
See Also :
Managing Chewing Insects
Managing Sucking Pests
Managing Foliar Diseases
Managing Soilborne Diseases
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