Better services help farmers keep track of fall armyworm

Growers dealing with fall armyworm (FAW) can now access the latest online resources using the new FAW engagement eHub, which features information on pest management, moth activities and research results.  

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said since the exotic plant pest arrived in far north Australia in early 2020 it had spread across much of the south, west and east of the country.

“As part of providing better services to industry, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is leading research and extension through Queensland Government and Hort Innovation-funded projects to co-develop an integrated FAW management strategy,” Mr Furner said.

“This involves field surveys and monitoring, control strategies, new techniques, compiling a literature review, and an economic risk analysis for horticultural crops in Australia.

“We have developed the eHub to share the outcomes of this work, including regular video and results updates from demonstration sites, event information, moth activities, insecticide resistance results, and to allow growers to engage in discussion.” 

For all your fall armyworm information, visit https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/fallarmyworm.

Fall armyworm is a tropical migratory pest and is expected to be present year-round in warmer areas, and for part of the year in temperate zones.

In Australia, FAW has been mainly attracted to grass species with whorls, including sweet corn.

Picture of FAW in sweetcorn https://www.dropbox.com/s/hg9cy2u1c4xe5mn/Picture1.jpg?dl=0

ENDS

Media contact:           Fidelis Rego                0403 707 547