The 2021 Crop Protection Forum, a national event targeting fungicide, herbicide and insecticide resistance issues in specific growing regions, will be held in Tasmania later this month.

Exploring the implications and solutions for pesticide resistance in southern cropping systems and the significant challenges it poses to the Tasmanian cropping industry the annual event will be held in Launceston on Wednesday, October 27.

CCDM Professor Mark Gibberd will be part of the 2021 Crop Protection Forum, a national event targeting fungicide, herbicide and insecticide resistance issues, will be held in Tasmania on October 27. Photo CCDM

Hosted by the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – a national research centre co-supported by GRDC and Curtin University, along with the GRDC-invested Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), and independent research and extension company Cesar Australia, the event will target agronomists and growers from across the country.

Professor Mark Gibberd, CCDM director says the forum will draw on experts from CCDM, AHRI, Cesar Australia as well as other research institutions from across the nation to present research relevant to a State that boasts a wide range of agriculture, viticulture, horticulture and grazing enterprises.

“Tasmanian growers are lucky to have a large selection of different crops they can grow, allowing them the advantage to rotate crops and clean up paddocks the following year,” Professor Gibberd says.

“However, there’s still a heavy reliance on just a few select active ingredients and it is important there is some awareness of resistance issues, so growers are well equipped to manage them as they arise.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the Tasmanian agronomists and growers and getting to the bottom of some big picture questions around resistance and how to slow down or simply prevent the rise in cases in the area.”

Professor Gibberd will open the forum with a facilitated panel discussion on the issues faced by growers of the region.

Resistance topics will then be delivered by:

• Hugh Beckie, AHRI Director, giving insight on what we can expect this decade in herbicide resistance.
• Fran Lopez-Ruiz, CCDM fungicide resistance expert, presenting on unexpected fungicide resistance cases.
• Simon Burgess of Vaucluse Agricultural Company, providing a grower’s perspective on crop rotations and chemical management strategies.
• Jana Dixon, WeedSmart agronomist, presenting solutions for controlling resistant weeds.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, four presentations will be delivered online including:

• Paul Umina, Cesar Australia Director, giving an update on the status of insecticide resistance in the field.
• Nick Poole, FAR Australia Director, providing information on how resistance is likely to affect crop management.
• Roberto Busi, AHRI herbicide resistance expert, talking about optimising herbicide use and minimising resistance.
• Joshua Thia, University of Melbourne researcher, predicting the risk of pesticide resistance in agricultural arthropod pests.

The day will be wrapped up by Mr Brett Davey, senior research and extension officer of Southern Farming Systems, as he facilitates a panel of local agronomists to understand the key solutions to managing resistance in the region.

The event will be held at the Tramsheds Function Centre with lunch, morning tea, afternoon tea, drinks and canapés included in the ticket price.

Tickets are available at CCDM Crop Protection Forum 2021 – with early bird discounts on offer until October 13.