What's causing crop damage this season?

Crops are emerging and can be vulnerable to damage from insects or infection from viruses such as turnip yellows virus which is vectored by the green peach aphid.     In this episode Research Scientists Benjamin Congdon, Dusty Severtson and Sveltana Micic discuss what insects (pests and beneficials) growers and consultants can expect to find at crop establishment. They also discuss the importance of regularly monitoring crops and correctly diagnosing the cause of plant damage and not assuming it’s caused by an invertebrate pest or virus. They also mention the importance of targeted and registered insecticide applications if insect pests are accurately identified and plants are not outgrowing damage.Episode Links:DPIRD’s PestFacts WA service Cesar Australia’s Redlegged earth mite hatch tool Cesar Australia’s Beneficials Chemical Toxicity Table GRDC’s Manage turnip yellows virus in canola factsheet DPIRD’s Insecticide spray guides Enjoyed this episode? Visit the Grains Convo podcast on the DPIRD website for related links, show notes and more episodes.