Pest and disease management
General advice and useful sources of information
Broadleaf and grass weeds need to be controlled routinely as they will use fertiliser and water at the expense of your crop and may shade young plants. They can also harbour pests and diseases. Use herbicides, weed matting, mulching, hand weeding or a combination of these.
Only a limited range of herbicides have been tested on native Australian and South African plants. Some species are very sensitive to them; for example, kangaroo paws, waratahs and grevilleas will not tolerate glyphosate drift.
Key references:
Neal JC, Gordon I. 2004. Weed management in woody cut flower plantations.Centre for Native Floriculture: www.uq.edu.au.
Weeds Australia www.weeds.org.au
Correctly identify and understand the pest or disease problem in your crop before you take action. You can also use sticky traps to monitor flying insects like thrips and psyllids effectively (available from most farm suppliers).
Because wildflower production is a relatively small industry, there may be no registered pesticides available for certain pests or diseases. Regulations on the use of pesticides are strict. A product has to be registered for a species and the situation in question before you may legally use it. There is also a Minor Use Permit system to cover off-label uses of pesticides (see www.apvma.gov.au for details).
Whenever you use a new product for the first time, read the label carefully. Check for advice on phytotoxicity and trial the product on a small area of crop first. You are responsible for choosing the correct chemical and rate of application. Use the correct protective equipment and get training in safe use and handling of pesticides.
With flowers destined for the export market, attention to pest and disease management is essential. Many countries, particularly Japan and the USA, have zero tolerance for pests and diseases. Postharvest disinfestation of product before shipping is necessary. This will be easier if you have competently managed pests and diseases during the growing season.
Nursery and Garden Industry of Qld. 2009. Insects, beneficials, diseases, disorders and weeds of nursery production. Download onto a PDA via an external Secure Digital (SD) memory card. Contact NGIQ on 07 3277 7900.
How do you find out which pesticides are registered?
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
APVMA is the Australian Government authority responsible for the assessment and registration of pesticides and veterinary medicines and for their regulation up to and including the point of retail sale.
Its role is to independently evaluate the safety and performance of chemical products intended for sale, making sure that the health and safety of people, animals and the environment are protected. Only products that meet these high standards are allowed to be supplied. APVMA does not register products if their use is likely to jeopardise trade or if they don’t work.
See www.apvma.gov.au
Search the APVMA website to find registered pesticides (if a product is not listed, it’s probably not registered) – select PUBCRIS (Public Chemical Information Registration System) on the menu and search by the product name or the active ingredient name.
There is also a Minor Use Permit system to cover off-label uses of pesticides. Please refer to the attached Excel file which offers a spreadsheet of all the current minor use permits that have been issued for the crop group ‘Ornamentals and nurseries’. This has been prepared by AgAware Consulting Pty Ltd for the Horticulture Australia funded project NT10029 ‘Managing pesticide access in horticulture’. Updates will be added to this website as they are received.
All efforts have been made to provide the most current, complete and accurate information on these permits, however it is recommended that you confirm the details of these permits at the following APVMA website: http://www.apvma.gov.au/permits/search.php
In order to ensure that these pesticides are working as indicated on the permit and not causing any adverse experiences, you are asked to take the time to consider the following questions:
1. Do these pesticides still function effectively as per the use pattern on the permit?
2. Have there been any adverse experiences with any of the permits (see attached list) used by your industry?
An adverse experience is an unintended or unexpected effect on plants, plant products, animals, human beings or the environment, including injury, sensitivity reactions or lack of efficacy associated with the use of an agricultural chemical product(s) when used according to label (or permit) directions.
If you answered yes to either of these questions, could you please complete the attached Adverse Experience Report Form.
Please return the Adverse Experience Report Form to: pds@agaware.com.au
If no response is forthcoming then it is assumed that the pesticide is functioning in accordance with the permit and that there are no adverse experiences to report.
PestGenie
PestGenie is an on-line system designed to support effective and appropriate use of crop protection products (and also animal health products). Annual subscription to PestGenie provides convenient access to a wide range of information on a broad range of products including downloads of Material Safety data Sheets.
Infopest is a pest management information system published on CD-ROM by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation in Queensland.
Contact Biosecurity Queensland, DEEDI, GPO Box 46, Brisbane Qld 4001, or phone 07 3239 3967, or search the web for ‘infopest’.
updated February 2012
List of horticultural permits ORNAMENTALS - 12 11 (2).xlsx
Adverse Experience Reporting Form for horticultural permits 3 11.doc
Myrtle rust
Please see the information on the main menu
Light brown apple moth
Please help prevent the export of this insect from Australia
The LBAM has already caused serious concern in USA and the US government is working to eradicate this insect from causing further damage to their horticultural industry.
Australian growers who export flowers, foliage and other produce to the US need to be extra vigilant and aware of the risk this native Australian insect can pose to their business and to the wider industry.
This page will help you learn more about this insect and help you to ensure that your shipments are insect free. The factsheet is attached with acknowledgement to the SA Department of Primary Industries and Resources. There is also information on LBAM in Australian Flower Industry magazine Issue 21, page 9.
The information is provided to all visitors by WildFlowers Australia Ltd to reduce the risk of a quarantine breach and its impact on the floriculture industry.
Are you in a position to share what you know about insect and how it can be managed?
Email WFA Ltd (management@wildflowersaustralia.com.au) and we will consider including your knowledge and control tips on this web page.
Light_Brown_Apple_Moth (1).pdf