Pests

Insect pests can affect pasture and crop yield and therefore a dairy business' bottom line. However, careful monitoring of pests and tracking the conditions which might allow them to thrive, can help to reduce their impact on yield.

The first step to managing pests is to correctly identify them. Incorrectly identifying pests can result in damage to plants, wasted pesticides and the loss of beneficial insects.

Once identified, specific management strategies can be applied to avoid economic losses.

General management strategies that may help decrease pest pressure on-farm include weed and grazing management, rotating crops, control sprays and endophytes.

In the coming seasons, dairy farms could encounter:

• Redlegged earth mite and other crop and pasture mites
• African black beetle and other cockchafers
• Slugs and snails
• Armyworm
• Diamondback moth
• Lucerne flea

More detailed information on these insect pests and how to manage them is available in the following fact sheets.