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TRAINING GUIDE Demonstrate knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Unit standard: 27217, Level 3, Credits: 5, Version: 1

Training Guide © NZHITO of 22 December 2011, US 27217 v1

Contents How to use this guide ................................................................................................ 3

Introduction to this guide .......................................................................................... 5 Purpose ................................................................................................................. 5 Help and information ............................................................................................. 5

Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ................................................ 6 What is Integrated Pest Management? ................................................................. 6 What is the underlying philosophy of IPM? ........................................................... 6 What do we mean by ‘acceptable level’? .............................................................. 6 Does IPM eliminate agrichemical use? ................................................................. 6 How does IPM benefit the primary sector? ........................................................... 7 Who uses IPM? ..................................................................................................... 8

Understanding IPM in practice ............................................................................... 10 What are the key steps of IPM? .......................................................................... 10 Is monitoring important? ..................................................................................... 10 What method should I use? ................................................................................ 10 What factors cause pest and disease outbreaks? .............................................. 12 What else needs to be considered? .................................................................... 12 What signs and symptoms should I look for? ..................................................... 12

Controlling pests and diseases with IPM .............................................................. 14 What control methods are used in IPM? ............................................................. 14 What is the cultural control method? ................................................................... 14 What is the physical control method? ................................................................. 15 What is biological control? .................................................................................. 15 What is chemical control? ................................................................................... 17 What about resistance to agrichemicals? ........................................................... 18 What legislation do I need to know about? ......................................................... 18

Appendix ................................................................................................................... 20 More information ................................................................................................. 20 Glossary .............................................................................................................. 21 Feedback form .................................................................................................... 22

Cover photo

Glasshouses in the Wellington Botanic Garden, where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is widely used.


How to use this guide This guide contains all the information you need to complete the assessment for this unit standard. It also contains activities and extra information to help you learn the material and prepare for your assessment.

The following icons will be used in this guide to show you where you can find the extra information and activities.

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Study tip

Use this guide to prepare for your assessment.

As you read through it, highlight the difficult bits and make notes at the sides of the page to help you learn.

Ask your trainer or supervisor for help if you need it.

As you read, keep in mind your assessor will ask you to:

• Define integrated pest management (IPM).

• Talk about how it works in your industry.

• Describe its key features.


• Describe the control methods of IPM.

• Explain how IPM benefits people in your industry and why.

• Explain why using an integrated method of pest control is better than using single pest control methods.

• Talk about the economic, market, export, human health and environmental benefits of using IPM in your industry.

• Talk about how information is used in the IPM method.

Level of performance expected from you

This is a level 3 unit standard. At this level, you are expected to:

• Work under general supervision, with some independence and significant responsibility for the standard of the outcome achieved.

• Apply technical skills and knowledge to complete the task to the specified standard in a familiar context.

• Interpret available information and use discretion and judgment.

Important information you need to know

You are also expected to know about the following legislation:

• Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992).

• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (1996).

• Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act (1997).

• Biosecurity Act (1993).

Here are the New Zealand Standards relevant to this guide:

• NZS 8409: 2004, The Management of Agrichemicals.

Here are the Codes of Practice you will need to know about:

• Responsible Care Management System.


Introduction to this guide Purpose The purpose of this training guide is to give you the theoretical information and practical experience you need to pass the assessment for New Zealand Qualifications Standard (NZQA) unit standard 27217.

To pass the unit standard you will need to:

• Demonstrate your knowledge of the key features of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its underlying principles.

• Demonstrate your knowledge of the benefits of IPM and suitability for your industry.

Help and information If you need help with learning the material featured in this guide or with reading, writing or maths:

• Talk to your trainer

• Talk to your supervisor.

You could also contact us, the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation. Phone 0800-467 844 or go to our website www.hortito.org.nz.


Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) In this section, you will learn about Integrated Pest Management (IPM), why it is useful and who uses IPM. You will also learn about monitoring and find out what an IPM threshold is.

What is Integrated Pest Management? Integrated pest management (IPM) is a best practice approach to controlling the pests and diseases found in the primary sector.

It relies on using a range of control methods and has evolved as a cost-effective response to a growing need to safeguard the environment and the personal health and safety of people who work in the primary sector.

What is the underlying philosophy of IPM? The underlying philosophy of IPM is:

• to maintain pest and disease populations at acceptable levels

• to minimise any adverse effect on human health

• to minimise any adverse effect on the environment.

What do we mean by ‘acceptable level’? Exactly what level of pest infestation is acceptable will vary across industries and workplaces and from crop to crop. It is up to you to determine the level – or threshold – that best suits your crop and your workplace.

Ultimately the term ‘acceptable level’ means the level of pest infestation or disease infection that a crop can live with and still remain healthy, commercial viable and/or pleasing to look at.

Does IPM eliminate agrichemical use? IPM aims to reduce the overall use of agrichemicals within the primary sector, as well as encourage people to use agrichemicals in a more effective and environmentally friendly and sensible way through:

• using agrichemical sprays sparingly

• making accurate decisions about when to use and apply agrichemicals

• targeting the pest or disease

• selecting agrichemicals that are less likely to leave chemical residues

• selecting agrichemicals that are least harmful to beneficial organisms.

Beneficial organism, any organism that helps a plant to grow such as earthworms and pollinators. Some beneficial organisms are the natural enemies of pests and diseases.


How does IPM benefit the primary sector? IPM benefits the primary sector in many ways.

It helps the sector produce high-quality crops by controlling the pests and diseases that threaten to damage them.

It also helps protect human and environmental health and safety through less frequent use of agrichemicals.

Increasingly, it has a positive spin-off for the country’s economy as well.

New Zealand’s economy relies heavily on earnings from the primary sector. At home and overseas, people are concerned about the overuse of pesticides, chemicals and fertilisers and they want to see the standard of agricultural and horticultural practice improve.

Consumer markets now demand the produce they consume is grown sustainably with high production standards and without causing unnecessary harm to people and the environment.

It is important New Zealand producers are able to meet these requirements and produce high quality goods to remain competitive. IPM provides one way to meet these goals.

IPM includes a wide range of practices in the viticulture industry – from suppressing weeds with mulch through to planting swards of clover (Trifolium repens), chicory (Cichorium intybus)

and lucerne (Medicago sativa) between the vines to improve soil health and encourage beneficial organisms.


Who uses IPM? IPM is used in New Zealand and throughout the world. It New Zealand, it is used in agriculture and in fruit, flower, vegetable, wine, nursery and forestry production, as well as amenity horticulture.

Here are some of the organisations that promote IPM within the primary sector.

• Global GAP – GAP stands for Good Agricultural Practice. This is a private sector organisation that sets voluntary standards for the certification of production processes of agricultural (including aquaculture) products around the world.

• Sustainable Wine New Zealand was established as an industry initiative to provide a best practice approach to environmental practices in the viticulture industry.

• Summerfruit New Zealand (the name of the stonefruit industry) has an IPM programme called SummerGreen, which has been adopted by a large proportion of the industry.

• New Zealand Avocado Growers Association has an IPM programme called Avogreen.

• The kiwifruit industry has an IFP (Integrated Fruit Production) programme called ZespriGreen.

• The pipfruit industry has a programme called NZPIFP (New Zealand Pipfruit Integrated Fruit Production).

Go online, look at reference books and talk to your supervisor to research how IPM is used in your industry.

Answer the following questions by writing down your answers in the spaces provided below.

1. What IPM control methods are used in your industry and why?

2. What are the benefits of using IPM?

3. Why is better to use the combined control methods of IPM rather than just one method or several methods individually?

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Understanding IPM in practice In this section you will learn about the key steps of IPM, why monitoring is important, what methods to use and the factors that cause pest and disease outbreaks. This section also looks at the typical signs and symptoms of common pests and diseases.

What are the key steps of IPM? To use IPM effectively, you will need to carry out the following key steps.

• Identify all the pests and diseases affecting your crop.

• Understand their lifecycles, signs and symptoms.

• Prioritise them in order of risk.

• Identify the acceptable level of pest infestation or disease infection that your crop can live with and still remain healthy, commercial viable and/or pleasing to look at.

• Identify how you will maintain the acceptable level.

• Identify how you will control any pests and diseases that exceed the acceptable level.

• Determine how you plan to monitor, record and assess your target pest and disease populations throughout a single production cycle or season.

Signs, evidence of an actual pest or disease (eg, pest droppings or the fruiting body of a disease).

Symptoms, a plant’s response to a pest or disease or an effect caused by a pest or disease (eg, holes in leaves, wilting or discolouration).

Is monitoring important? Monitoring is an important part of IPM. It will give you the information you need to maintain an acceptable level of pest infestation or disease infection and it will help you take action if or when the acceptable level is exceeded.

What method should I use? The monitoring method you choose will depend on several factors such as your type of industry, your crops, the pests or diseases you are dealing with, the time of year and your workplace procedures.

Keep in mind to monitor accurately and use IPM successfully you need to have a good knowledge of:

• your crops and their preferred environmental conditions

• the types of pests and diseases your crop is susceptible to

• the lifecycles of the pests and diseases that favour your crop and the conditions and time of year they favour


• any relevant beneficial organisms such as pest predators and parasites.


What factors cause pest and disease outbreaks? Typically, pest and disease outbreaks are caused by three main factors (often referred to as ‘the disease triangle’). They are:

• a susceptible host plant

• the presence of a pathogen (ie a disease causing organism) or a pest

• a favourable environment.

It is possible to prevent or control a pest or disease outbreak by reducing or eliminating one or more of the three factors listed above. For example, you might want to reduce thrips (a pest common to glasshouse plants) by breeding a parasitic wasp (known to kill thrips by laying eggs inside them and feeding on them) on site.

Ask your supervisor to explain ‘the disease triangle’.

Ask him or her to use a real-life example from your workplace to describe it.

Identify a host plant, a pathogen and a favourable environment.

Discuss how reducing one of these three factors has helped get rid of a plant pest or disease in practice.

What else needs to be considered? Effective IPM also relies on using good prevention and control methods.

It is a good idea to ask yourself the following questions as you start to think about using IPM in your workplace.

• What environmental conditions are preferred by the pests I want to control? Would altering the temperature in my greenhouse help keep them away, for example?

• What natural enemies could I use to help control a common pest like the greenhouse thrip? Should I plant Vireya favoured by the parasitic wasp, Thripobius semiluteus, for example?

• What physical control measures could I use to keep leafroller caterpillars from overwhelming my begonias? Is squashing them by hand enough or should I spray with Dipel, an effective agrichemical?

What signs and symptoms should I look for? Talk to your supervisor about how to identify the pests and diseases common to your industry. Find out as much as you can about their specific signs and symptoms.

Ask your supervisor to show you examples of common pest eggs or some common fungal sporing bodies (a sign that a fungal infection is well developed).


A horticulture worker uses a hand lens to look for signs of honeydew excreted by thrips.

Webbing and leaf damage typical of the leafroller caterpillar (also pictured).

Sometimes you may only see symptoms – here are some examples.

• Leaves that are chewed, with holes.

• Rolled or distorted leaves.

• Stunted and distorted shoots.

• Cankers (open wounds on woody stems) which often ooze sap.

• Galls – unusual swollen growths on leaves or stems.

• Dead spots on leaves, discoloured leaves, eg silvering, bronzing and yellowing.

Keep in mind that disease pathogens are difficult to see and often you can only look for symptoms.

With fungal diseases, you may see sooty mould spots, fungal mycelium, mildew, and slimy mould. Discolouration or streaking of flower petals may be signs of a viral disease.


Controlling pests and diseases with IPM In this section you will learn about the four main control methods of IPM and some of the techniques associated with the methods. It also covers chemical resistance and the laws related to IPM.

What control methods are used in IPM? IPM uses four main control methods – the cultural, physical, biological and chemical methods. Each type offers a variety of techniques.

What is the cultural control method? Cultural control reduces pest and disease growth by changing the environment in a way that harms either the pest or disease. Here are some examples.

• Planting healthy pest resistant plant varieties.

• Using irrigation to discourage diseases that do not tolerate high moisture.

• Sheltering desirable plants with windbreaks to avoid damage and disease caused by wind.

• Boosting the growth of desirable plants and suppressing plant pests by applying mulch.

Another example is controlling the climate in a greenhouse by changing the light, humidity and temperature to discourage fungal disease and provide the best conditions to grow plants.

Here are some other common practices used in cultural control and some useful tips.

Pruning

Pruning a plant to improve air flow and light penetration around the plant is one way to help lower humidity levels and discourage some pests and diseases. It can also increase a plant’s ability to carry out photosynthesis.

Tip: Burn or dispose of what you prune carefully, especially if the plant waste is likely to be infected with disease. Also make sure you prune at a time and in a way that helps the plant to seal its wounds as quickly as possible (ideally while the plant is active).

Choosing resistant varieties

Growing plant varieties and cultivars that are resistant to certain pests and diseases is a good way to reduce any opportunities for unwanted organisms to get established.

Tip: Check the range of resistant varieties and cultivars available for your crop or industry and use them as part of your overall IPM strategy.


Correct cultivation

Providing your plants with the right amount of water, nutrients, space to develop and shelter will help them to grow to their best and remain healthy.

Tip: Keep in mind that weeds will also benefit from correct cultivation. Consider adding mulch to your plant beds to suppress weeds.

Good hygiene and sanitation

Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your tools and equipment is vital for crops that need a lot of pruning and a good way to discourage the spread of pests and diseases. It is especially important for employees and contract crews that move between different properties, eg vineyards and forestry or nursery blocks.

Tip: Always maintain clean and tidy work areas. Keep them free of weeds and dead plant material, both of which can harbour pests and diseases.

Careful handling

Careful handling of plants or crops can minimise any unnecessary damage caused to your plants and any resulting infection.

Tip: Keep in mind every wound on a plant is a potential entry point for bacterial and fungal spores until the plant can seal the wound off from the outside world.

Crop rotation

Rotating crops helps to prevent the build-up of soil-borne pathogens that may infect a new crop of the same species.

Tip: Follow a brassica crop with a lettuce crop to prevent the build-up of clubroot spores (a serious root disease of brassicas) in the soil.

What is the physical control method? The physical control method is also called mechanical control. It involves any physical activity to remove a pest or disease.

For example, you might trap a pest or remove it (an aphid, for example) by hosing it off a plant.

The physical control method also involves activities such as removing debris that can contain pests and diseases from around a desirable plant.

What is biological control? Biological control is one of the most important control methods used in IPM.

It involves introducing or encouraging other organisms (often called beneficial organisms or natural enemies) to feed on or infect a targeted plant pest or disease.

Sometimes the organisms naturally live on site. At other times they are bought from suppliers or bred in-house.


Listed below are some of the beneficial insects commonly used to control pests.

• Ladybugs are a common predator of aphids.

• Delphastus, a tiny beetle, feeds on whitefly (a pest of greenhouse and outdoor crops).

• Insects used to control weeds such as cinnabar moth on ragwort and St Johns beetle on St Johns wort.

A horticulture worker uses a sprouting potato to breed a beneficial insect called mealybug ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri). The mealybug ladybird will be used to control mealy

bugs, a common plant pest.

Beneficial plants

Other beneficial organisms are plants grown among crops to provide a habitat for predators or act as pest deterrents.

Some are important providers of year-round nectar for parasite adults. For example alyssum and blue tansy are nectar sources for hover flies and other beneficial insects. Lavender, calendula and marigold discourage pests.

Read more on beneficial organisms in Managing Pests and Diseases by Rob Lucas. Craig Potton Press.


What is chemical control? Chemical control involves using chemicals such as chemical pheromones, growth regulators, bio-control agents and organic and inorganic agrichemicals to control plant pests and diseases.

Chemical pheromones

Chemical pheromones simulate the natural chemicals secreted by insects to attract another insect into a trap or breed. Pheromone traps are widely used in IPM programmes to monitor pest population levels.

Tip: Use pheromone traps to monitor the population of a plant pest such as the codling moth, which is common to the fruit industry.

Growth regulators

Growth regulators are chemicals that resemble the hormones in plants and insects that stop pests from completing their natural growth cycles. Dimilin, for example, stops porina caterpillars from moulting, killing the caterpillar but causing no harm to the earth worms and other soil dwellers the caterpillar lives among.

Tip: Keep in mind that hormones are already present in plants and insects (albeit in very small amounts). It is important to apply growth regulators carefully. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Bio-control agents

Bio-control agents are usually naturally-occurring bacterial and fungal pathogens that attack insect pests and diseases. Here are some common examples.

• Invade – a biological insecticide for control of grass grub.

• Dipel – a commercially produced biological insecticide.

• Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) – a bacteria that is selective to and lethal on caterpillars. It has little effect on other organisms and is more environmentally friendly than synthetic pesticides.

• Serratia entomophila – another bacterial pathogen that infects and kills grass grub larvae in the soil.

• Cordyceps sinclarii – a fungal pathogen of cicada nymphs.

• Trichoderma viride – a fungus that discourages some fungal pathogens like armillaria, phytophthora and silver leaf.

Both growth regulators and bio-control agents are sprayed to control pests and are defined as pesticides.

Tip: Talk to experts from your local and regional councils and Landcare Research to make sure you only ever use approved bio-controls. Never use a bio-control agent that does not have proper certification.


Organic chemicals

Organic chemicals vary widely. Pyrethrum, derris and nicotine, for example, are organic chemicals that will harm all and any insects that come into contact with them and can be toxic (ie poisonous) to people.

On the other hand, spraying oils can be a safe organic option. Spray oils coat the surface of leaves and insects. The oil blocks the small breathing holes on an insect’s abdomen (called spiracles) and suffocate it.

Tip: Treat all organic chemicals as poisons. Always use the appropriate personal protective equipment to apply them. Avoid chemicals coming into contact with your skin or eyes and take care to avoid breathing in any fumes or vapours.

Inorganic agrichemicals

Inorganic agrichemicals are typically very effective at killing pests and diseases but are usually the final option when all other control methods have failed.

Inorganic agrichemicals can leave behind pesticide residues and destroy beneficial insects including bees and other invertebrates like spiders.

Tip: Always read safety labels and follow manufacturer’s instructions before using inorganic agrichemicals. Talk to your supervisor if you have any questions about safety.

Pesticide residues, very small amounts of pesticides that can remain in or on a crop after harvesting and make their way into the food chain.

What about resistance to agrichemicals? All pests and diseases have the potential to develop resistance to agrichemicals. That is why it is important to avoid overusing them and to apply them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

What legislation do I need to know about? The following laws are all relevant to successful IPM.

• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO).

• Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997 (ACVM).

• Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).

• Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE).

• Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005.

You should also become familiar with the New Zealand Standard, NZS 8409: 2004, The Management of Agrichemicals, which is a code of practice approved under the HSNO and ACVM acts.


A copy of this standard should be available in every workplace where agrichemicals are stored and used as part of everyday work practices.

The standard interprets relevant legislation and sets out, in plain language, what you need to do, to use and manage agrichemicals safely, responsibly and effectively.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with NZS 8409:2004.

Complete the section on chemical resistance below by selecting one of the words (in bold) and using it to fill a gap. The first gap has been filled with the word ‘eggs’ to get you started.

Chemical resistance

eggs…rotating…breed…change…effective…resistance…agrichemical… genetic

Some pests produce thousands of eggs so there is a high chance of producing an egg with a mutation (ie a in the genetic structure) giving resistance to a particular .

To combat this, IPM programmes suggest chemicals along with targeted application to reduce the probability of developing.

By reducing reliance on agrichemicals it is hoped that non-resistant pests will continue to with resistant varieties and dilute the general population, allowing sprays to become more again.

For more information about safe agrichemical use and effective IPM read The New Zealand Novachem Agrichemical Manual.

This is an industry publication of registered agrichemicals in New Zealand. To find out more about the manual or to order it online, go to: www.novachem.co.nz


Appendix More information

What Where to go

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.govt.nz

Landcare Research www.landcareresearch.co.nz

New Zealand Chemical Industry Council (NZCIC)

www.nzcic.org.nz

New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation

www.hortito.org.nz

Novachem Agrichemical Manual www.novachem.co.nz

Occupational Safety and Health www.osh.dol.govt.nz/

Pest and disease management. Managing Pests and Diseases by Rob Lucas. Craig Potton Press.

Resource Management Act www.mfe.govt/laws/rma/

Standards New Zealand www.standards.co.nz


Glossary Beneficial organism Any organism that helps a plant to grow. These

include a wide range of organisms such as earthworms and pollinators. There are also natural enemies of pests, eg predatory insects, parasites and diseases that will kill pests.

Pesticide residues Very small amounts of pesticides that can remain in or on a crop after harvesting and make their way into the food chain.

Signs Evidence of an actual pest or disease (eg, pest droppings or the fruiting body of a disease).

Symptoms A plant’s response to a pest or disease or an effect caused by a pest or disease (eg, holes in leaves, wilting or discolouration).


Feedback form

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PO Box 8638, Christchurch Phone: (03) 964 4735, Fax: (03) 964 4737

Website: www.hortito.org.nz

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