Understanding the potential local impacts of Fall armyworm (FAW) is up for conversation at Lindenow in early September, at a free workshop run by Agriculture Victoria.
Fall armyworm is a highly invasive and destructive caterpillar native to tropical and subtropical regions, however, has recently been sighted in the colder areas of Victoria, therefore producers are being encouraged to keep an eye out for it.
Farmers, employees and agronomists are invited to attend the information session to learn more about the emerging pest that has the potential to destroy a number of different crops.
The event will be run in partnership with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) and VegNET Gippsland.
AgVic Gippsland Horticulture program coordinator, Scott Botten, said FAW was now considered established in Australia after being found in Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and at a single location in East Gippsland in December 2020.
“Fall armyworm is known to feed on more than 350 plant species, including maize, cotton, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat and many other vegetable and fruit crops,” Mr Botten said.
“Young caterpillars feed on leaves, creating pinholes and giving a tattered appearance, while mature caterpillars can cause extensive damage by grazing on leaf stems and trunks and tunnelling into fruit.”
Mr Botten said numbers of the pest can increase quickly due to their fast reproductive cycle.
Adult moths are capable of flying long distances and can also be spread via storm events.
“We are fortunate to have national experts presenting so farmers can hear the latest information and ask questions to get a better understanding of the pest and what it means for their business,” he said.
Growers and agronomists in East and Central Gippsland can take samples of suspected FAW to the AgVic office in Maffra to arrange for free LAMP testing.
Elders Bairnsdale agronomist, Liv Betts, said FAW was starting to target sweet corn and maize crops, as well as canola.
She said notes from QDAF had been reported across a wide host range but appeared to prefer grasses, with the majority of damage in Australia so far to maize and sweet corn, and some damage to sorghum.
FAW also has the potential to infest various horticultural crops, pasture grasses and weeds, has been recorded in sugarcane, cotton and wheat overseas, but there have been no significant reports of FAW in these crops in Australia so far.
“We’re about to start trapping locally for FAW which will potentially become a year-round program,” Ms Betts said.
“FAW usually lives in warmer weather, the highest pressure is in Queensland.
“However, it has started migrating south and has also been found in Nepal in winter so it can adapt to cooler environments.”
The information session will include:
– Pheromone blends
– Host plant preference
– Identification
– Resistances, surveillance and management
– Economic thresholds
– Q&A session
QLD FAW update.
The venue is the Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel, 167-171 Main Road, Lindenow, on Tuesday, September 3, 10.30am-2.30 pm, and lunch is included.
