Pest management
Key tools and publications
Identify and manage pests on your farm
The AHDB pest encyclopaedia covers hundreds of crop pests (including beetles, bugs, aphids, flies, moths, butterflies and nematodes) known to affect field crops. The publication also includes a section dedicated to natural pest enemies.
Monitor and control aphids
Aphids can cause significant yield reduction through feeding damage and diseases introduced by virus transmission.
HGCA’s aphid management publications can be used to better understand aphids and their control.
AHDB Aphid News provides weekly updates on regional aphid activity during key times of the year. They are designed to assist decision-making relating to spraying.
Integrate slug control
Wheat seeds and germinating oilseed rape seedlings are highly vulnerable to feeding by slugs. The following publication helps growers assess slug risk and explain integrated management options, which are based on accurate timing and placement of slug pellets.
Also see:
- www.ahdb.org.uk/slugcontrol
- www.getpelletwise.co.uk
Target specific cereal pests
Orange wheat blossom midge is an economically important pest. HGCA has produced comprehensive guidelines to assist with its management and control.
Wheat bulb fly numbers fluctuate considerably from year to year. HGCA invests in an annual survey of wheat bulb fly egg numbers to help establish the need for insecticidal seed treatment or sprays.
For general information on biology and control, see the wheat bulb fly topic sheet.
In the last few years, local epidemics of the saddle gall midge have been reported. HGCA has issued a publication to help growers better understand the risk of yield loss associated with saddle gall midge and control options.
Target specific oilseed rape pests
In the absence of neonicotinoid seed treatments, control of cabbage stem flea beetle will be reliant on the use of foliar sprays of pyrethroids. Any decision to apply an insecticide must be based on a risk assessment
In recent years, pollen beetles have rarely been abundant enough to warrant treatment: careful monitoring can prevent unnecessary ‘insurance’ sprays and help preserve the efficacy of pyrethroid products. The following publication contains information that can be used to target pollen beetle monitoring and help determine when control is necessary.
Online forecasts of pollen beetle migration can help to focus monitoring effort to when it is most needed and reduce unnecessary insurance sprays.
Identify and manage pests in your store
Integrated pest management is an essential component of safe grain storage. As grain stores present a unique set of pest challenges, particularly due to the low infestation thresholds, HGCA has produced some key reference sources for the identification and management of grain storage pests.
Target specific oilseed rape pests
Living organisms are necessary for the biological processes associated with agricultural production. Farms with a relatively wide range of living organisms can be described as ‘biodiverse’.
Discover how an investment in biodiversity could help increase natural pest predator levels by visiting our Stewardship pages.