This agrochemical update has been issued to inform grape growers about their options for control of Australian plague locust and does not represent an endorsement of any product or procedure. It is recommended that grape growers contact their winery or grape purchaser prior to undertaking any chemical control measure.
Background
Locust will soon be emerging in many grape growing areas of southern Australia. In past locust plagues, grape growers have generally only had to deal with adult locusts flying in from breeding grounds farther north. This year, many vineyards are those breeding grounds.
Grape growers can expect to see hoppers (young locusts) emerge from roadsides, tracks and other areas of bare or hard ground where adult locusts laid eggs last autumn. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) and Department of Primary Industries – Victoria are encouraging land managers to control young hoppers early to keep numbers low.
As hoppers are mostly at ground level, control can be achieved by directly spraying the hoppers on the ground (inter row, fence lines, tracks) rather than spraying the vines.
State specific information is available and it is advised that growers become familiar with the relevant website:
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/locust
http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/plague-locusts
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/insects/general/locusts
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_92901.html
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_8269.htm
Strategy for early season (hopper) control of Australian plague locust in vineyards
- Monitor for emergence of hoppers on your property – particularly roadsides, tracks and areas of hard ground, as well as within the vines.
- Hoppers are expected to stay close to the ground but may cause some damage to lower parts of the canopy, particularly as they develop.
- Apply pesticide directly onto hoppers when they have congregated together in bands. This will occur when the hoppers are at a specific developmental stage (3rd instar). It is NOT necessary to spray entire vineyards, only spray where and when hoppers have banded together.
- Using undervine or inter-row boom sprays or equivalent rather than air blasters and misters will direct the pesticide onto the hoppers rather than onto vines, reducing any potential impact of insecticides on vines and grapes.
- Continue to monitor hopper activity as additional sprays may be required, and hoppers may move in from neighbouring areas.
- Check with your winery or grape purchaser prior to any 1A or 1B insecticide application. Only apply chemicals that are registered for use in vines or have permit for the pest. It is important that chemical applicators ensure that products are approved for their crop/situation and if operating off-label under a permit that they obtain a copy of, read and follow all the conditions of those permits (including withholding periods that appear on product labels for the crop).
OPTIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF AUSTRALIAN PLAGUE LOCUST
The following table lists the registered chemicals and current off-label permits issued for grapevines for the control of Australian plague locust. It is essential that you read the conditions attached to the permit prior to use. It is recommended that you contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to the application of any chemical covered by an off-label permit.
| NSW | Qld | SA | WA | VIC | WHP | |
| fenitrothion | Registered | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| Metarhizium anisopliae | Registered | Not specified | ||||
| Carbaryl | PER11658 | ** | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| Chlorpyrifos | PER12255 | PER11658 | ** | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| Diazinon | * | Registered | ** | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| Maldison | PER11843 | PER12255 | PER11658 | ** | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| methidathion | PER11658 | *** | Use no later than 80% capfall. Contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to use. |
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| Non-bearing vines only | ||||||
| alpha-cypermethrin | PER10927 | PER10927 | PER10927 | ** | Not specified | |
* South Australian legislation allows use of a product where the use pattern is registered in another state. For further information contact PIRSA (08) 8226 0222.
** Victoria is not included under the various permits because their ‘control-of-use’ legislation means that a permit is not required to legalise off-label use in Victoria. It is recommended that you seek further advice from the Chemical Standards Branch of Victorian DPI by calling (03) 9217 4177 or emailing chemicalstandards@dpi.vic.gov.au.
*** Methidathion, a S7 chemical, cannot be used off-label in Vic unless a S25A permit has been issued by the Vic DPI. It is recommended that you seek further advice from the Chemical Standards Branch of Victorian DPI by calling (03) 9217 4177 or emailing chemicalstandards@dpi.vic.gov.au.
Contributors: Ken Henry and Peter Willmott (PIRSA) and Kevin Bodnaruk (AKC Consulting).
For further information: contact Marcel Essling, Viticulturist on email agrochemicals@awri.com.au or by telephone 08 8313 6600.
This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.