Tips to manage pests

A series of innovative pest management courses aimed at fruit growers in the region will start next month.

Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE spokesman Duncan Brown said fruit growers would benefit from attending.

The courses, in the Department of Primary Industries training room in Cobram, start next Thursday.

‘‘With this information growers can use a range of strategies to maintain control,’’ Mr Brown said. ‘‘The idea is to maintain a more natural balance in the orchid.

‘‘It’s about not fighting nature, but working with nature.

‘‘It is essential for growers to have a good pest management strategy in place.

‘‘We have put together a range of short courses.

‘‘The idea is that if people are interested in a qualification over two-and-a-half years — doing these short courses actually counts towards a Diploma of Production Horticulture.’’

The TAFE and Fruit Growers Victoria have put their heads together to design this course to help orchardists and staff learn the latest pest monitoring techniques.

It will also help growers reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and discover the best methods of keeping beneficial insects in their orchards.

The course will cover the types of chemicals that will soon be taken off the market, new chemicals, field trips to local orchids, pesticide resistance and pest and disease identification.

The three-day course will be from 9 am to 3.30 pm on Thursday, September 6, September 13 and September 27 and morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Cost of the course is $200.