Are you managing your resistance?

The Problem

Essentially, if we keep applying the same or similar pesticides to our crops, over time, we will develop populations of insects and diseasesthat will be resistant to those pesticides, resulting in very poor control and crop losses.

I can hear the sighs and groans already!  Yes, we all know (or should know) a little bit about this subject and it is a subject that gets thrown at us all the time.  However, I think it is important to remind ourselves of issues and strategies to implement that will help all growers.

The Issues

• Pesticides that are registered for ornamental use or that are safe for ornamental use are becoming fewer

• Generic chemistry can cause confusion, with people not understanding active ingredients and formulation differences

• Jargon – MoA’s, FRAC, IRAC, a.i.’s, groups and sub-groups – the list goes on!  This subject can become very technical and we need to simplify as much of it as possible 

The Strategies

• Get to know the pesticide MoA (Mode of Action) - that’s the first bit of jargon sorted out!  To do this, you simply need to know the a.i. (active ingredient) then reference this a.i. on the appropriate IRAC or FRAC chart…. I hear those sighs again!

• IRAC stands for Insecticide Resistance Action Committee and FRAC stands for Fungicide Resistance Action Committee.  These international bodies publish annual charts that list all known pesticides into charts.

• Begin planning your pesticide applications and try if at all possible, to alternate or rotate pesticides from different MoA groups.  This will help minimise resistance development.  

That’s all I am going to write at this stage – for those of you unfamiliar with this subject, it is probably a bit mind-boggling already but it really is not that difficult.  Perhaps follow the links below to get a feel for what IRAC and FRAC is all about and remember – talk to your Horticentre representative if you need assistance with this subject.

www.irac-online.org  and look for  MODE OF ACTION then ‘Browse the full MoA Classification Scheme’

www.frac.info  and look for  2014-01-13 - The 2014 FRAC Code List©