Growing Skills: Pesticide Resistance

Dear Reader

Following on from last month's theme of conservation management, in this issue of Growing Skills we are looking at pesticide resistance. Growing numbers of pest species are becoming less susceptible to pesticide and insecticide treatments and are threatening crop production. We will cover strategies that can be incorporated into your pest management scheme, in order to maintain biodiversity whilst protecting agricultural yields.

Best wishes

James

Natural Selection – Pesticide Resistance

We are seeing increasing numbers of pest species adapting to survive against the pesticides and insecticides we use every day to protect agricultural production. Whilst this is part of natural selection, and with the GM debate ever in the forefront of our minds, this is a problem that if not tackled effectively could threaten agricultural yields.

The Insecticide Resistance Committee (IRAC) defines pesticide resistance as “a heritable change in the sensitivity of a pest population that is reflected in the repeated failure of a product to achieve the expected level of control”.

The obvious solution would be to increase pesticide application. But is this really the best option to prevent crop losses? What are the potential impacts on biodiversity? Could other non-target species be affected? Could crops ultimately suffer?

So what other steps can be taken? Some simple solutions include:

• Avoiding unnecessary pesticide applications to reduce likelihood of adaptation.
• Alternating between pesticide classes.
• Combining pesticide products within one application.
• Using crop rotation and other soil management techniques.
• Selecting crop varieties with natural resistance to particular diseases, to reduce the need for pesticides/insecticides.

The Monsanto organisation also suggests using the latest agricultural advances such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to protect your crops, whilst decreasing or even possibly eliminating the need for pesticide sprays. Bt used as a topical spray is an alternative to pesticides, it encourages crops to produce a protein that is toxic to several varieties of insect larvae.

Rural Skills Pest Control Training Courses

Basis Certificate in Crop Protection: Aimed at those working in the crop protection industry, this course is a prerequisite for those who wish to give advice on the use of Agrochemicals commercially. Also it would benefit farmers and managers of large-scale arable enterprises.

Basis Plant Protection Award: This qualification required by the Crop Protection Association of its members' staff who regularly give advice. It's also the next step for any agronomist who wishes to demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of Crop Protection Technology.

Fertiliser Advisors Certification and Training Scheme: Designed to achieve a high technical standard, this intensive 5 day course is essential for agronomists, consultants, sales representatives and farm managers involved in fertiliser application, planning and advice.

Pesticide Application Courses: We run courses covering safe use of pesticides, ground crop spraying, granule and hand held application techniques and sprayer operation.

For more information on any of these course please contact me on 01285 889873 or via email at james.foster@rac.ac.uk

Upcoming Course Information

We still have availability on the following courses in April:

• Arboriculture 1 - Chainsaw LANTRA Awards Maintenance and Operation (Cross Cutting) - 10th & 11th April
• Dry Stone Walling Module 1 Introduction - 14th April
• Dry Stone Walling Module 2 Walling Features - 28th April
• Pesticide Application PA2A Ground Crop Sprayer - 18th April
• Pesticide Application PA6A Hand Held Applicator - 11th April
• Welding (Module 1) Introduction - 5 consecutive Tuesday evenings starting on 17th April