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Argentine stem weevil numbers building

AgPest — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 20:00:59 +0000

Argentine stem weevil is building up in the North Island and will need to be considered in pasture and crop establishment. Insecticide coated seed may be a viable control option and insecticide application can provide temporary relief from this pest and allow seedlings to establish. Argentine stem weevil is a significant threat to seedling grasses, even those infected with endophyte, cereals and maize crops. See DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide for a guide to endophyte selection.

Direct drilling? Check for slugs.

AgPest — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 19:30:57 +0000

If direct drilling new pastures or crops check for slugs as these can devastate establishing seedlings. An application of slug pellets may be required or control may be achieved by heavy stocking rates.

Ordering grass seed? Select suitable endophytes.

AgPest — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 19:30:44 +0000

When ordering grass seed select suitable endophytes and check that the endophyte you select has been assessed in the grass variety you order. In ryegrass, AR1 and AR37, and diploids with NEA2 , will protect against Argentine stem weevil, AR37, Endo5 and NEA2 against black beetle and AR37 against porina. See DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide for a guide to endophyte selection.
Endophyte levels in the seed should be at least 70% and have been assessed in the last 3 months.

Ordering grass seed?

AgPest — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 21:00:58 +0000

When ordering grass seed, select suitable endophytes and check that the endophyte you select has been assessed in the grass variety you order. In ryegrass, AR1 and AR37, and diploids with NEA2 , will protect against Argentine stem weevil, AR37, Endo5 and NEA2 against black beetle and AR37 against porina. See DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide for a guide to endophyte selection or the cultivar selector at www.dairynzfvi.co.nz

Endophyte levels in the seed should be at least 70% and have been assessed in the last 3 months.

Argentine stem weevil numbers increasing

AgPest — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 21:00:51 +0000

Argentine stem weevil is building up in the North Island and will need to be considered in pasture and crop establishment.

Insecticide coated seed may be a viable control option and insecticide application can provide temporary relief from this pest and allow seedlings to establish. Argentine stem weevil is a significant threat to seedling grasses, even those infected with endophyte, cereals and maize crops. See DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide for a guide to endophyte selection.

For further information on Argentine stem weevil including biology, impact and control, follow the links below:

Clover root weevil present in most areas

AgPest — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:00:42 +0000

Clover root weevil will be very obvious in most areas –U shaped notches at the edge of clover leaves show adults are present. The presence of larvae may be indicated by the pasture appearing nitrogen deficient. While control is generally not an option careful management of clover will help maintain pasture quality. Additional nitrogen may need to be applied to pastures and clover should not be over grazed.

For further information on clover root weevil including biology, impact and control, follow the links below:

Pasture renewal required after grass grub/porina damage?

AgPest — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 21:30:08 +0000

For pastures badly affected by either grass grub or porina over winter and needing renewal, consider direct drilling. This will preserve naturally occurring diseases of these pests that are building up in the soil and which will provide long term population regulation. Leave sowing as late as possible as both pests, especially in the south, may still be feeding and could devastate establishing seedlings. Be aware that slugs and clover root weevil may also be present in damaging numbers.

For further information on either of these pests, including identification, biology, impact and control, click on the links below:

Summer-active grass weeds

AgPest — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 21:30:52 +0000

If your run-out pasture was infested with summer-active grass weeds last summer, consider growing a forage crop for one or two summers prior to sowing the perennial pasture. This provides the opportunity to selectively spray the summer-active grasses and prevent weed seeds from replenishing the seed bank and infesting newly sown pastures. Forage crops will also disrupt clover root weevil populations, allowing better subsequent establishment of young clover.

For further information on weed and pest identification, biology, impact and management visit our AgPest Online Pest Directory.

Clover root weevils in pasture may reduce amount of nitrogen fixed by clover

AgPest — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 21:30:12 +0000

In established pastures with high levels of clover root weevil the clover may be adding little in the way of nitrogen to the pasture and compensatory nitrogen applications may be required.

For further information on clover root weevil including biology, impact and control, follow the links below:

Clover root weevil an issue?

AgPest — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 22:15:37 +0000

If clover root weevil is an issue in your area, pasture renewal should incorporate a non-clover break crop.

This weevil cannot survive in the absence of clover, so a clover free break crop provides a temporary weevil free environment that will allow clover seedlings to establish before the weevil reinvades. This will also produce plant nematodes, plant pathogens and weeds, and benefit the new pasture.

For more information on Clover root weevil, including biology, impact and control, click on the link below:

Clover root weevil