18 July 2023
CropLife Australia’s updated Resistance Management Strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides are now available online. The newly updated strategies for 2023-24 have been reviewed by CropLife’s expert committees, in consultation with relevant national and international experts and provide invaluable support to farmers, agronomists and environmental land managers in preserving the long-term viability and effectiveness of essential crop protection products.
“Relentless weather conditions have intensified Australia’s need for effective management of insect pests, weed and diseases, which continually undermine and compromise agricultural productivity and essential environmental land management,” said Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey.
“A critical tool in the Aussie farmer toolkit has been access to pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. By remaining up to date with the latest resistance management strategies, agricultural professionals can optimise their pest management practices and protect the long-term viability of these crucial products.
“These new strategies support the judicious, targeted and effective use of pesticides, a crucial step in Integrated Pest Management methods. A fundamental element of resistance management is the rotation or admixture of pesticides with different modes of action. This practice prevents continuous exposure of pests to a single pesticide class, reducing the likelihood of resistance development.
“Furthermore, Integrated Pest Management methods safeguard the environment and minimise the risk of negative impacts on non-target organisms and also ensures the long-term efficacy of pest control measures, supporting sustainable agricultural practices for generations to come.
“Resistance management strategies serve as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, product labels. While implementing these strategies, it remains imperative to adhere to the handling and application instructions specified on the registered product label or approved permit.
Mr Cossey concluded, “It’s also a timely reminder that Australia is currently in the transition phase of aligning its herbicide mode of action (MoA) classification system with global standards i.e., moving from a letter-based system to a numerical one. The classifications capture new active constituents and ensures the Australian MoA classification system is future proofed and remains globally relevant for farmers and agronomists. The numerical classification system should be fully implemented by the end of 2024.”
CropLife Australia’s popular Resistance Management Strategies are part of its broader StewardshipFirst® initiative – a suite of world-leading best-practice stewardship resources and programs that assist all pesticide users to remain world and leaders in sustainable agricultural practices.
View the 2023-24 Resistance Management Strategies online at: https://www.croplife.org.au/resources/programs/resistance-management/
Find resources supporting Herbicide MoA alignment at:
https://www.croplife.org.au/media/industry-news/moa/