Fall armyworm research, development and extension for horticulture

Welcome to the fall armyworm eHub!

On this site you can engage with the latest fall armyworm (FAW) research, development and extension (R, D & E) activities for horticulture:

  • read the latest news updates on FAW management, moth activities and seasonal patterns, and insecticide resistance results
  • access FAW R, D & E resources
  • engage in discussion, report on FAW activities, ask a question and provide feedback
  • find FAW-related event information.

To receive updates on information added to this page, register on this eHub and 'follow' the fall armyworm project.

This eHub page is delivered as part of the Hort Innovation funded project VG22006 'National Fall Armyworm (FAW) innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry'.

What's happening in fall armyworm research, development and extension?

National workshop in Tatura unites agronomists to tackle fall armyworm

In response to industry concerns over fall armyworm (FAW), Agriculture Victoria brought together 17 agronomists from Victoria’s grains, dairy fodder and horticulture sectors for a workshop in Tatura on 23 October. The event was supported by the National fall armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry (VG22006) project, National Vegetable Extension Network (VegNET) and the Maize Association of Australia, and provided up-to-date knowledge on FAW management for local growers

Bowen/Burdekin agronomists and researchers discuss area-wide management of fall armyworm

On 18 September, eighteen agronomists and researchers from the horticulture, grain, and cane industries met at the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries (DAF) facility in Bowen to discuss sustainable area-wide management (AWM) of fall armyworm (FAW) in the Bowen-Burdekin region. The meeting addressed key topics, including biological control, insecticide resistance, management strategies, and FAW monitoring using pheromone traps and real-time data collection tools.

Cross–industry stakeholders meet to talk about fall armyworm in Lockyer Valley

On 12 September 2024, twenty participants, including growers, agronomists, extension workers, and researchers gathered at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' (DAF) Gatton Research Facility to discuss fall armyworm (FAW) in the Lockyer Valley. The meeting was conducted as part of the project VG22006 National fall armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable Industry.

Fall armyworm workshop ramps up awareness across East Gippsland (Victoria)

Over the last two years, fall armyworm (FAW) has become a potential pest in Victoria for current and future climates, with impacts on corn and maize crop production along with risks to many other grains and horticultural crops.

DAF's extension officer for the national fall armyworm project

Our extension officer Dr Ramesh Puri is working on a new national program delivered through Hort Innovation to reduce the impact of fall armyworm on the vegetable industry. Ramesh’s career in agriculture has taken him from Nepal to Japan to Victoria Australia. In early 2022, Ramesh moved to Queensland with his wife and two children and joined our team in Bowen.

Guidance for scouting fall armyworm on sweet corn and maize

In the absence of accurate damage or economic thresholds, the following points should be considered when monitoring fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on sweet corn and maize crops in Australia. 1. Female moths lay eggs in masses, around 50 to 200 eggs in a mass, on all stages of sweet corn and maize. Monitoring needs to begin as soon as the shoots emerge and continue at least every week until harvest.  Eggs can be found on the upper and lower leaf surfaces, on stems and husk.

Funding

2393079.jpg