Use: Actions that lead to impact

Our project is trying to move from passive to active management of beneficials in canola production landscapes, but we acknowledge that we need a suite of new knowledge, tools and practices to achieve this outcome. We have there areas we are developing in the project:

Landscape-scale resources for beneficials

We have some ideas about how landscapes can be designed to reduce the risk of pest outbreaks, but not specifically how to provide resources for beneficials.

Attractants to get beneficials into fields

We are investigating ways that chemical attractants might one-day be used to lure beneficials into canola fields and retain them there earlier in the season.

Digital tools to help quantify risk that include beneficials

We are investigating how tools used at the field and landscape-scale can help manage beneficials in a more organized way.

Tools and techniques to optimize releases of inoculative release of beneficials

The release of mass-produced beneficials into broad-acre fields has only just started. Along with suppliers like Biological Services we are trying to understand the best ways to achieve a good outcome from growers.

What do we mean by inoculative release of beneficials?

Under certain conditions beneficials may not be present in a canola field, or present in high enough numbers to have an impact on pest populations. If a grower is concerned they may end up in this position they could consider early release of mass-produced species purchased from a supplier. In theory, releasing a small amount early will enable species to grow, reproduce and build high numbers within a field. However, the timing and location of releases is critical to success given the many factors which can lead to mortality in beneficial species. We are trying to develop tools to optimize releases of these valuable species to create nurseries in canola fields which deliver season-long benefits in terms of pest suppression.