THE Birchip Cropping Group will begin a two-year integrated pest management trial at Charlton this year.
The trial will compare IPM against conventional pest management control using a broad-spectrum insecticide and a control measure of no treatment at all in a grain crop.
It is designed to see whether IPM has a role in insect pest management in the region's crops.
The trial is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and CESAR consultants.
The BCG said farmers were currently reliant on insecticides to counter pests.
The research group said potential problems with this strategy were that it was harmful to the environment and human health and spraying was becoming increasingly expensive.
The BCG will hold a workshop on August 18 to disseminate early results from the trial.
Helping hand
AGFARM is calling for donations to help grain industry commentator Brett Stevenson recover from a serious spinal injury.
Mr Stevenson, principal of Ag Risk Management and Market Check, suffered a broken neck in a swimming accident in January and has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation ever since.
A fundraising dinner is being held in Sydney on July 24, with seats available at $175 each through info@agfarm.com.au
If you can't make the dinner, donations can also be made to Mr Stevenson as a cheque made payable to Agfarm Pty Ltd Fundraising Account for Brett Stevenson, sent to Agfarm, PO Box 2649, Bondi Junction, NSW, 1355.
Alternatively, an EFT payment can be made to Agfarm Pty Ltd Fundraising Account for Brett Stevenson, BSB 082 057, account number 173303712.
Young farmer tour
YOUNG farmers who sign up for Grain Growers Association's Innovation Generation conference in Albury in July will tour local businesses to learn about supply chain logistics.
Rivalea Meats, Mars Petcare and John Deere will open their doors to the group.
The theme of the conference is "Building Supply Chain Solutions".
The conference is on July 6-8 and the $445 cost covers full conference participation, four nights accommodation, meals and social events.
Anyone interested in the conference must register through www.graingrowers.com.au by June 4.
Nitrogen trial
A NEW research project in Western Australia is looking at whether crop plants can tap into nitrogen in subsoils.
The Nutrients in Time and Space project is being led by Richard Bell, professor in sustainable management at Murdoch University.
Professor Bell said while nutrients in the topsoil had the biggest effect on performance, the effect of subsoil nutrients was not clear.
- Send your grain news to Peter Hemphill, The Weekly Times, PO Box 14999, Melbourne, 8001, email to hemphillp@theweeklytimes.com.au or fax it to (03) 9292 2697.
