Key Points:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers an opportunity to move away from the routine broadspectrum insecticide-based approach to pest management. It combines biological (natural predators), chemical (selective) and cultural controls in an integrated way.
- There was no difference in yields or BYDV incidence over two growing seasons for paddocks using IPM and conventional pest management.
- IPM managed cereals used at least one less insecticide then conventionally managed cereals.
- Gross margins were slightly higher for the IPM sites.
- There are a wide range of beneficial insect predators that can contribute to pest control.
- The numbers of resident predator beetles were a lot more abundant at the IPM managed sites.