• Our Research
    • Research Strategy
    • Research Sites
    • Current Research Projects
    • Research Results
    • Research Collaborations
    • Research Resources
    • Seed Industry Research Centre
    Current Research
    Current Research
    Research Results
    Research Results
  • Resources
    • Biosecurity
    • Crop Action
    • Nutrient Management
    • Maize
    • Templates and Calculators
    • Cereals
    • Weeds
    • Pests
    • Seeds
    • Diseases
    • News
    • Environment
    • Soil
    • Schools
    Podcast
    Podcast
    Environment and Compliance
    Environment and Compliance
  • Levies & Returns
    • Arable Crops Levy
    • Maize Levy
    • Cereal Silage Levy
    • Farmer Annual Return Form
    • Wholesaler Annual Return Form
    Levies
    Levies
    Annual Returns
    Annual Returns
  • Events
  • News
  • About Us
    • Governance and growers
    • Business Strategy
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Growers Leading Change
    • Women in Arable
    • Arable Ys
    • Arable Kids
    • Arable Research Groups (ARGs)
    • New Zealand Grown Grains
    Our People
    Our People
    Growers Leading Change
    Growers Leading Change
  • Ask FAR AI
  • Weather
  • Log In
Ask FAR AI
Weather
Log In
  • Homepage
  • Resources
  • Fall Armyworm Response Update

Fall armyworm response update

Faw dots 3

Work continues to evaluate the degree of spread and the degree of risk posed by fall armyworm. 

The objectives of the current fall armyworm response are to:

  1. Understand the distribution of FAW within NZ using sector-led surveillance
  2. Effectively manage identified FAW populations, reducing the risk of a reservoir population growing at the start of next spring.
  3. Further understand FAW’s ability to persist in NZ and specific impacts to growers and taonga species

Biosecurity New Zealand had received 301 enquiries related to FAW as of 10 June 2022. There are now a total of 23 confirmed detections

  • 22 infested properties + 1 location of interest

Read Biosecurity NZ update here

History of incursion

An egg mass was found on 16 March 2022 in Tauranga on the outside of an Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) trap. This egg mass was submitted to Plant Heath Environment Laboratory (PHEL) and identified as the Unwanted Organism Fall armyworm (FAW) on 24 March 2022. Then, on 2 April 2022 mature caterpillars were found by a grower on volunteer corn in a paddock at Waikato.

Following the positive identification of FAW by PHEL on 11 April, the surrounding area was inspected by Biosecurity New Zealand, which identified FAW at a further property two kilometres away.

It is believed that the arrival of FAW in New Zealand was via wind-dispersal from the east coast of Australia, following a recent outbreak in that region combined with favourable win conditions facilitating transport over the Tasman Sea.

Related Resources

09 October 2025

Maize update 92: Mechanical weeding in maize

Maize is one of the easiest crops to mechanically weed and levels of weed control comparable to herbicides can be achieved. Find out more about the options available and how they work in this maize update.

Read more
09 October 2025

Maize update 91: Management options for specific weeds in maize

Weed related yield losses ranging from 15% to 56% for silage and 15% to 61% for grain have been observed in New Zealand maize systems. In this maize update find out management strategies for a number of common annual and perennial weeds of maize.

Read more
09 October 2025

Black-grass update

Growers are reminded to report any grass weeds that appear unfamiliar or could resemble black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides). Early reporting remains one of our strongest tools for protecting the industry.

Read more
09 October 2025

Maize Update 90 Maize pre-emergence herbicides and how best to use them

Pre-emergence herbicides have been the mainstay of maize weed management. This Maize Update discusses factors affecting pre-emergence herbicide success including application timing, modes of action and soil interactions. 

Read more
09 October 2025

Maize Update 89: On-farm biosecurity: Invasive weeds in maize systems and how to avoid them

Farmers face three levels of biosecurity risk; regional biosecurity incursion risk; border biosecurity, regional biosecurity and on-farm biosecurity. This Maize update discusses the importance of on-farm biosecurity, the one factor you have control over.

Read more
09 October 2025

M88: Using cover crops for weed management in maize grain systems

This Maize Update discusses key issues for consideration in the choice and establishment of over-winter cover crops, along with the results of a five-year trial at FAR’s Northern Crops Research Site which researched the potential for over-winter cover crops to suppress weeds in the following no-till maize grain crop.

Read more
09 October 2025

Fall armyworm update: 4 April 2025

Find out regional information on Fall armyworm as of April 4 2025.

Read more
09 October 2025

FAR Focus 17 - Maize weed management

This FAR Focus on maize weed management covers research on issues maize growers currently face, including; Herbicide resistance, problem weeds, herbicide options and on-farm biosecurity. 

Read more
09 October 2025

Blackgrass and fall armyworm levy update

Seed and Grain Readiness and Response Incorporated (“SGRR”) is a biosecurity entity for the arable sector. It was established in 2020 under the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity (GIA). It is currently collecting levies to cover the costs of the two biosecurity incursions, black grass and fall armyworm. 

Read more
09 October 2025

Fall armyworm update: 14 March 2025

Check out the latest fall armyworm update here. 

Read more

Ask FAR AI

Ask FAR is a new way to get information from the FAR website. Just ‘Ask FAR’ a question and you’ll get a quick, accurate response based on FAR research and resources. Ask FAR also provides links to the original documents for more information. It’s quick, easy and reliable. Ask FAR now!

Start Chatting
  • Research
  • Levies and Returns
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Schools
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

©2022 Foundation for Arable Research