Pest and disease management
2023 Strawberry Pest and Disease Control Sheets + Withholding Periods
BerryWorld have updated the spray list and withholding periods and it is available for growers here. All care is taken and the notes on pest and disease control and pesticide residues are presented after consideration of the information available. But please note this important disclaimer:
No assurances can be given on pest and disease control, or that plant damage will not result from use of this information. No assurances are given that produce, treated with chemicals according to the above table will be acceptable to the countries listed. Berryworld Ltd and Strawberry Growers New Zealand Inc disclaim all liabilities arising from the use of the above information. If in doubt contact your exporter or adviser.
A major focus for the industry has been developing solutions for pest and disease challenges growers face. Finding alternatives to methyl bromide used for soil fumigation to control serious soil diseases, especially Phytophthora root rot was a major challenge and this disease continues to be a major threat to soil grown strawberries. Some growers have moved to table top systems where plants are grown in artificial media which overcomes the need for soil sterilisation.
Crop protection product use is evolving with actives being withdrawn from use and new materials being developed, there is an on-going demand to develop new control options to meet the pest and disease challenges that growers face. More recently the focus has been on developing integrated pest management (IPM). This system has a focus on using biological control options for pest control and minimising the use of chemical pesticides and ensuring that pesticides that are used do not affect the predators.
Webinar presentations
Why IPM? https://youtu.be/FKa8XGwaGjE
Paul's Talk: https://youtu.be/sch6fjre-JQ
Pest and Beneficial Identification - A technical video for the New Zealand Strawberry Industry and affiliated members. Presented by Joanne Poulton on behalf of the “Future-proofing thrips management in strawberries” (No. 405943) Sustainable Farming Fund Project Team: https://youtu.be/O9WJ-bCmIz8
How to Scout your Crop - A technical video for the New Zealand Strawberry Industry and affiliated members. Presented by Joanne Poulton on behalf of the “Future-proofing thrips management in strawberries” (No. 405943) Sustainable Farming Fund Project Team: https://youtu.be/k_E85RDnsL8
How to Scout your Crop (Australian Expert Version) - A technical video for the New Zealand Strawberry Industry and affiliated members. Presented by Paul Horne and Rebecca Addison on behalf of the “Future-proofing thrips management in strawberries” (No. 405943) Sustainable Farming Fund Project: https://youtu.be/XLgb1Ou6WP4
Documents:
Key beneficials associated with strawberries in NZ
Key pests associated with strawberries in NZ
Zoom recordings of webinars
Webinar 1 SGNZ - skip to 7.20mins in:
Passcode: xwjsa$Q2
Webinar 2 - skip to 12.30mins in:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/HDFe2COjTgl-w5enaUCDHJmP9KpkBFoOrOupX9Ch_VY6IG7sKrT_7z_xcwY0yUrm.v0KNzD-xuA7N-ico
Access Passcode: 3$#&+CT7
Thrips management in strawberries project
One of the limitations to the success of this programme has been the management of thrips which is providing a major challenge. As a result, a major programme has been developed, supported by the MPI Sustainable Farming Fund, which runs from 2019 for 2022.
Currently, thrips damage costs the NZ strawberry growers approximately $37,500/ha. Thrips are a major economic pest in NZ strawberry production and the industry is lacking knowledge and tools to successfully manage them. Past practices to manage thrips are heavily reliant on non-selective insecticides, but control failure and the unsustainability of this practice is not an option for the future production. It is also a barrier to the successful implementation of a currently industry-developed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for pest management.
NZ strawberry growers wish to implement IPM strategies for more sustainable and profitable production. This project aims to increase knowledge and develop and implement new tools and management techniques to manage thrips, transforming the current IPM strategy. This will enable growers to manage thrips to minimise economic damage of these pests and enable an overall IPM strategy to be implemented across NZ strawberry production.
In our members only section we have the following information available to download:
- Thrips one-pager 2019-20
- Thrips species associated with strawberries overseas grower information Jan 2020
- Thrips management literature review Feb 2020
- Handouts from a grower field day held in Jan 2020 and 2021 on the thrips management project and trials
- Project update reports from Year 1 and Year 2