| Grower name: | David Finger |
| Location: | Yarra Junction, Victoria |
| What are the main IPDM issues being focussed on? | Main concerns are black spot and codling moth but mites, birds, heliothis, kangaroos and fruit bats are becoming issues. |
| What are you doing currently with IPDM? | I am using RIMPRO to guide my spray timing for black spot and codling moth.
I have a staff member dedicated to scouting the orchard. Last season I was disappointed with performance of predatory mites despite having released a range of predatory mites for control of my mite complex (I have TSM, ERM, and bryobia as pests). Aphelinus mali is present in good numbers so I am trying to restrict insecticide use and to use ‘softer’ products where possible. I maintain a weed-free tree-line but don’t worry too much about weeds in the inter-row because I root-prune to control vigour, which means that the weeds are probably not competing with the trees. When I do mow I use a narrow mulching mower that leaves some weeds at the edges to support predators. |
| What has worked well? What hasn’t? | Combining RIMPRO with MetEye provides extra weather data, such as wind speed, including 7 day forecasts that help with planning orchard operations (especially spray applications).
The recent training workshop confirmed that my IPDM program is working. |
| What would you do differently next time? | I am going to try to reduce the use of Altacor, consider the use of Vertimec early, more strategic release of predatory mites, and then try to track the impact. |
| Any interesting learnings? | Too early in the season to say much. |
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