Dipel® – technology ahead of its time Mollusc mitigation – What risks do snails and slugs pose?

DIPEL® – TECHNOLOGY AHEAD OF ITS TIME

Very few crop protection products have stood the test of time, but even after 50 years, DiPel Biological Insecticide stands alone as the leading biological product that growers depend upon to control lepidopteran pests.

First registered in 1971, DiPel® has a proud heritage of innovation and field performance, leading the way in sustainable crop protection. Frank Galluccio - Regional Manager for Sumitomo AgroSolutions - based in Swan Hill, has been servicing DiPel customers for 30 years and says, “it is a product that was ahead of its time.” When Frank first started out many table grape growers in the area seemed reluctant to be seen purchasing DiPel by their peers for fear of being labelled a ‘Greenie’.

He remembers one particular grower, from Euston NSW who had discovered that DiPel was very effective in controlling Light Brown Apple Moth in his grapes, but still did not necessarily want to be seen buying it. Frank fondly remembers that grower would visit his retailer in Robinvale and wait until no other customers were in the store, then walk up to the counter and very quietly say, “May I have some DiPel please”. Times have of course changed, and because DiPel is both very economical and highly compatible, growers now mix it with their general cover sprays for powdery mildew, downy mildew and botrytis giving them protection against disease and LBAM.

Frank says the most noticeable thing from the early years of the surreptitious purchase of a 500g pack over the counter, is that DiPel is now sold in much larger quantities and displayed proudly in the back of many utes. (Insert picture of Frank and Wayne from Elders Robinvale with DiPel) DiPel has a number of features specific to biological insecticides that make both ecological and economic sense. • DiPel poses no harm to humans, wildlife, or the environment, and is non-toxic to pollinators and other beneficial insects.

• DiPel is fast-acting, causing caterpillar pests to stop feeding immediately ensuring no further damage to the crop. • DiPel has no residues and no withholding periods and is an Australian Organic Registered Farm Input meaning that crops can be used in both organic farming and conventional cropping. • DiPel has no minimum re-entry period after application, so workers are not delayed from returning to the crop to continue harvesting or performing other duties.

DiPel is still brought to you by the people that first developed and launched it 50 years ago and now have more experience with Bt insecticides than anyone else. This experience has led to continuous innovation in fermentation, formulation and application technology allowing DiPel to maintain its effectiveness and even surpass many of its younger alternatives. Growers now seek out softer, more selective crop protection options that are compatible with Integrated Pest Management and certified organic programs. Throughout all of these past five decades, DiPel has provided fast, effective, and natural pest control while at the same time being gentle on the crop and kind to beneficial insects, farm workers and the environment.

Happy birthday DiPel. Here’s to another 50 years!

MOLLUSC MITIGATION – WHAT RISKS DO SNAILS AND SLUGS POSE?

“If you have to clean snails out at harvest, you have not done your job properly at the start of the season.”

Control of snails and slugs requires timely application of baits, based on understanding when and where the greatest threats exist. Snails and slugs are adapted to the variable Australian climate “lottery”, with numbers fluctuating between seasons. Recent GRDC research highlighted the interaction between climatic conditions and snail and slug numbers, with available moisture being the main factor. Good growing seasons equal larger snail and slug populations, hence greater risk to crops. Wet conditions continuing into 2021 across most of eastern and southern Australia have been ideal for snail and slug breeding.

Following two dry seasons, small numbers of snails were observed in the autumn of 2020 across most vineyards, so bait was not applied. By spring, large numbers of snails were observed, with baiting required to protect new growth. Applications of an attractive product, Metarex Inov, resulted in excellent control. Italian snails from vineyards in the South East of South Australia on average were 5-7 mm larger than previous years, indicating 2020 was an excellent year for numbers to build up. Larger adults produce more eggs.

Autumn applications of Metarex Inov, before eggs are laid, will provide the best reduction of snails. A recent trial on garden snails in citrus orchards indicated a doubling of efficacy when Metarex Inov was applied in March compared to winter. Similar results have been observed across broadacre crops. This season, in early March, a 100% kill was achieved on Italian round snails using Metarex Inov under ideal conditions: dewy mornings followed by dry, warm days with snails being active after mating.

Last year also favoured the build-up of slug populations, with breeding continuing all year in some areas due to good soil moisture (>30% v/v). Monitoring from South West Victoria (Fig. 1) supports observations that there are massive populations of grey field slugs awaiting canola to emerge. Application of Metarex Inov at sowing, after rolling, will protect seed and seedlings. Follow-up monitoring is required to ensure bait remains, hence continuing to protect seedlings. Follow-up applications of Metarex Inov may be required this year, with the confidence that juvenile slugs will be controlled as was observed last spring in poppies. This is not the year to short-change the insurance policy for slug protection.

Proactive baiting using an attractive, palatable, persistent product that delivers a lethal dose, integrated with cultural practices and conservation of natural enemies, will protect crops and eliminate contamination of produce.

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SW Vic slug population dynamics 2019 - 2020

Grey Field Black Keeled

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