Grain growers are encouraged to increase their knowledge of fungicide resistance risks and optimal fungicide management in their cropping systems.
Three new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) videos have been produced to help growers understand how fungicide resistance develops and how they can prevent it from becoming an issue in their cropping programs.
The videos have been produced by the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN), a significant investment by the GRDC, co-ordinated through the Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM) – itself a co-investment between the GRDC and Curtin University.
CCDM Program Leader for Fungicide Resistance Management and Disease Impacts Dr Fran Lopez-Ruiz says the alternative to integrated disease management is a very adverse situation.
"Growers could see fungicides start to fail, which would require increased chemical inputs with negative implications for grain yield and quality and for the environment." he says.
"If we can keep disease levels lower, that reduces the inputs required to control them."
The videos are:
- Applying fungicide strategically to minimise resistance risk and maximise economic return - Nick Poole, FAR Australia
- Grower management techniques to minimise fungicide resistance risk in the medium rainfall zone - Dr Tara Garrard, South Australian Research and Development Institute
- Specific issues around fungicide resistance in canola crops – Dr Steve Marcroft, Marcroft Pathology
The videos provide practical, on-farm steps growers can take to implement an integrated disease management strategy that reduces disease pressure and minimises their reliance on fungicides for disease control – based on the Fungicide Resistance Five (FR-5).
It is hoped widespread adoption of the FR-5 strategy will help protect the long-term efficacy of current fungicides by reducing disease pressure in crops and encouraging sustainable fungicide management.
Growers can view the videos through GRDC's YouTube channel. For more detailed fungicide resistance information, visit https://afren.com.au.
