Managing your spray in blueberries

Minor Use Permits – Berries

Fertilizer Australia launches labelling awareness campaign

Tasmania: Berry Sprayer Field Day

To plant or not to plant: Managing the risk of strawberry fumigant phytotoxicity

The VSIDC are currently funding research by VSICA Research to develop tests for measuring fumigants in soil so that growers know when it is safe to plant their crops. Researchers are testing two different technologies (photoionisation detectors and colorimetric tubes) that instantaneously detect fumigants in soil. The use of these technologies in field surveys has already prevented growers from planting into soil containing fumigant residues at 15 sites. The project has established a field trial in the industry that is evaluating the tolerance of different strawberry varieties to the presence of fumigant residues in soil. Preliminary results showed strong correlations between the concentration of fumigants in soil and growth inhibition in lettuce as an indicator plant. If results continue to show success it is anticipated the technologies will be developed as a product or service to growers in Victoria.

PEST-Chilli Thrips

Chilli thrips have quickly jumped onto the radar of many horticulturalists in Western Australia despite having been present in northern Australia for around 20 years. The first complaints from home gardeners in the Perth metro area were received in approximately 2020. This was followed by table grape growers the following year and by berry growers in 2021/22. This highly polyphagous pest, with a wide host range of 225 plant species, is known around the world to be notoriously difficult to manage and can cause significant economic damage to horticulture.

Developing safer, selective insecticides to preserve honey bee health

Most currently used pesticides in agricultural applications contain broad-spectrum chemicals, which are harmful to a wide range of insects. However, the majority of insects are not pests, and with concerns about global insect declines and the impact this will have on ecosystem health, there is a need for more environmentally friendly insecticides that have selective action against major pests while preserving the health of beneficial insects.

Dùng chlorine để kiểm soát vi khuẩn sắt trong giếng khoan

Nhiều người trồng trọt gặp khó khăn do sự tích tụ cặn bẩn nâu trong hệ thống tưới do vi khuẩn sắt gây ra. Ben Funnekotter từ The Seedling Factory đã chỉ cho chúng tôi cách anh ấy kiểm soát vi khuẩn sắt trong các giếng khoan bị ô nhiễm trong một chuyến tham quan cơ sở của anh ấy. Hệ thống tự chế của anh ấy cung cấp khả năng xử lý bằng chlorine liên tục cho giếng khoan (giúp tiêu diệt vi khuẩn) bằng cách sử dụng thiết lập Venturi đơn giản bơm nước qua một bình chứa các viên nén chlorine.

EXP-Berries Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) App now available

A new mobile phone app designed to help growers manage chemical application and facilitate trade has been released by Berries Australia. The Berries Australia MRL App provides information on maximum residue limits (MRLs) and withholding periods (WHPs) for both domestic and export markets. The easy-to-use interface provides users with access to real-time pre- and post-harvest chemical application data based on domestic and export market, target pest or disease and/or active constituents.

Optimising chemical efficacy for spray application in berries

The application of agrichemicals to control pest and disease incursion is used as part of an integrated management approach which also includes cultural and biological control. This article discusses water quality, turbidity, hardness, pH, the types of chemical formulations, and tank mixing procedures.