An integrated pest management approach is being developed by the Ministry for Primary Industries and sector groups with the aim of safeguarding New Zealand’s maize and sweetcorn industries against fall armyworm.
The approach will see the MPI collaborate with the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), Process Vegetables NZ, Vegetables NZ Inc and growers on management and mitigation strategies to help reduce production losses and enhance resilience to the invasive pest, Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said.
“Together we’ll develop some really good tools for growers, including establishing surveillance networks on a national scale.”
Fall armyworm is believed to have blown over to New Zealand from Australia after a cyclone in early 2022. After a year of battling the pest, MPI and industry partners agreed to close the response and shift the focus to long-term management of the pest by industry. The invasive pest has the potential to impact 72,490 hectares of maize, with an estimated value of more than $480 million, and 3320ha of sweetcorn production, with an export value of $36.9m.
FAR biosecurity officer Ashley Mills said it is unknown what the full impact of the fall armyworm incursion will be in the future as it depends largely on winter temperatures and suitable host plants in the absence of maize and sweetcorn.
“For instance, in areas with warmer winter temperatures such as Northland, the insect has the capacity to overwinter and survive all year round. With warming temperatures, we might expect the problem to grow year on year.
“Part of our research will be to identify gaps of knowledge around the winter growing season and dispersal of fall armyworm.
“We’ll produce models and come up with early warning tools for agronomists and growers, so they understand when they need to employ their most intensive management strategies.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and approaches may vary according to factors such as region, climate or soil type. In most cases, encouraging beneficial insects will work, but in more problematic regions or localities, insecticides might be needed, and the timing of application will be important.”
The approach will focus over the next three years on understanding fall armyworm phenology and distribution, developing New Zealand-specific economic thresholds and finding long-term solutions that reduce reliance on agrichemicals and preserve soil health, water quality and biodiversity.
FAR and Vegetables NZ Inc will host information and tools for fall armyworm management on their websites.
This will include modelling, distribution maps, guidelines, and training videos. FAR will also host workshops over winter, tailored to each region.
Anderson said engagement with growers will be an essential part of the programme.
“Ultimately, it’s the growers that will need to implement the strategies and use the tools. This project aims to make these easily available for everyone to use.”
MPI will contribute up to $300,000 over three years to the $630,000 project through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
