Pests

With a goal of Predator Free 2050, it can seem ambitious with only 25 years to go. Is it a fantasy, or can it become our reality? In this episode we catch up with different groups working to tackle pests and weeds across New Zealand, from animals like ferrets, goats and possums, to weeds like wilding conifers.
Hear from Pete Oswald from Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group; Mike Perry from DOC’s new National Wild Animals Management Programme; and James Ross, Professor of Wildlife Management at Lincoln University.

Old chemistry is being withdrawn from the market globally, and being more selective is encouraged for both avoiding insecticide and pesticide resistance while also bringing down onfarm costs. So how do you control pests without relying on an overuse of pesticides? Three science experts aim to support the major knowledge gap on pests and diseases in pasture, forage and cereal crops.

Morgan Inness reports on the benefit of monitoring for porina.

A new pest is invading the South Island. Poplar and Willow Research Trust general manager Ian McIvor said they were asking farmers to scan their eyes over their poplar trees for a hairy poplar sawfly.