2024 Australia-Japan Horticulture Showcase
It’s Brown Marmorated Stink Bug season – are you prepared?
Understanding the common factors driving yield in Tasmanian pea production
Research to practice: Applying lessons from a biomineral approach to veg production across WA crops, regions and systems
Growers lean into business management principles that boost efficiency
Predicting beet cyst nematode populations in brassicas
Pest resilient landscapes in horticulture: A Lockyer Valley perspective
Drones vs. humans: Approach to release beneficial insects in veg crops tested in Qld
Vegetable growers are increasingly turning to an integrated pest management approach to combat pests. This approach uses cultural, biological and chemical methods to control pests, including the use of beneficial insects as natural pest predators.
A trial in northern Queensland examined the effectiveness, efficiency and practicality of using drones versus hand release methods to distribute beneficial insects in vegetable crops.
The results showed that despite higher initial costs, the long-term benefits in pest control efficiency and effectiveness made drones a promising technology for modern agricultural pest management.
However, further research is required and practical considerations such as drone technology availability and cost constraints should be evaluated by individual growers before implementation.