Minor Use News December 2004

Cut flowers - Integrated Pest Management focus and field tour

Staff from APVMA and the Office of Chemical Safety (Occupational Health and Safety assessment team) recently visited the following three cut flower operations in Western Sydney and the Central Coast:
· Flora International - Camden Valley Way, Leppington
· Olivieri Flowers - Pacific Highway, Doyalson
· Tyrade Pty Ltd - Hakone Rd, Warnervale

The operations predominantly involve the growing of roses, gerberas and/or chrysanthemums and the tour was conducted following the submission of a number of minor use permit applications from an established IPM Flower Group comprising growers and technical and extension staff from NSW DPI from the Sydney basin and Central Coast region of NSW.

The IPM Flower Group has undertaken several steps prior to the submission of minor use permit applications to the APVMA. Predominantly involving a thorough and detailed process of identifying major pests and diseases, chemicals currently in use and possible alternatives with a focus on identifying suitable chemicals for IPM implementation and that a range of chemicals are available for resistance management. The group prior to submission also held discussions with APVMA on permit application process, data requirements, including use of extrapolation and international information ensuring that applications submitted contained essential information required by the APVMA to undertake an assessment. This preliminary work has resulted in a suite of targeted options being submitted to the APVMA for minor use permits to achieve the desired outcomes of the group.

However, for APVMA and OCS staff to gain a better understanding of the industry and practices a field visit was arranged. This provided the industry an opportunity to directly demonstrate one-on-one to APVMA and OCS evaluators current pest management strategies being implemented, emphasis and requirements of IPM, application methodologies, differences within operations and broader objectives for the approval of new chemistry to further enhance IPM implementation. Growers and technical/extension staff with expertise in IPM, entomology and plant pathology from NSW Department of Primary Industries demonstrated chemical use practices and explained pest management problems faced by the industry and the basis behind seeking the regulatory approval of new chemistry to enhance IPM implementation.

Areas covered during visit included things such as:
· Greenhouse structures – appreciation of the range of technology in use.
· Typical flower crop maintenance activities
· Flower harvesting operations including picking, bunching and other post harvest procedures
· Information on crop scheduling and market timing issues, including quality/post harvest requirements
· Pesticide spray application – simulated application to demonstrate equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in use and practicalities/difficulties for wearing PPE in greenhouses
· Demonstration of IPM in practice – sticky traps, monitoring records, beneficials etc.
· Demonstration of impact of key diseases – symptoms, production and quality losses, management
· Discussion of reduction in number and extent of spray events as a result of adopting IPM; reduction in use of ‘broad spectrum’ chemicals

The information gathered is considered extremely beneficial in assisting APVMA and OCS evaluation staff in the assessment of the permit applications currently under assessment. It is envisaged that most applications currently being considered will be finalised within the next few weeks.

The APVMA and OCS thank Flora International, Olivieri Flowers, Tyrade Pty Ltd, other members of the IPM Flower Group and staff from NSW DPI in organising this valuable field visit.