Sustainability

AQUATIC TOXICITIES OF IGR PESTICIDES

Project leader: Dr Douglas Rankin
Research organisation: Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (Inc.)
Project number: 01WR17
Phone number: 03 3252 421
Location: Lincoln
Fax number 03 3252 717
Email: rankin@wronz.org.nz
Funders: Meat & Wool Innovation

Project outline: The aim of this project is to review the literature on the aquatic toxicity of three insect growth regulators currently used in New Zealand for the control of external pests on sheep (primarily fly and lice). Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for the compounds will then be determined for their presence in freshwater streams in Europe and New Zealand. The compounds being examined are diflubenzuron, triflumuron and dicyclanil, which are the active ingredients in a number of proprietary products.

The EQS are required to allow likely effects on freshwater biota in New Zealand and Europe to be calculated for any processors scouring or using scoured New Zealand wool and discharging effluents to rivers. EQS are necessary to protect both the continued use of these chemicals on farms in New Zealand, and access to overseas markets where processors use our wool. Unless we are sure that residues of these compounds pose no threat to the environment both here and overseas, there may be problems over their continued use.

Toxicity data obtained from publicly available literature will be assessed. Along with data on levels likely to be found on greasy and scoured wools, this will allow assessment of the likely environmental impacts of discharging effluent from greasy or scoured wool processing into freshwater streams.

The literature review has been completed. There is a paucity of data on dicyclanil, and only limited data on the chronic toxicity of diflubenzuron and triflumuron to freshwater biota. This makes derivation of EQS more risky, as there is a chance that toxicity to organisms will not be correctly recognised. It is hoped that the results from this survey and analysis of the data will allow us to decide whether there will be a future issue with use of these compounds in New Zealand.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF HIERACIUM

Project leader: Mr John Aspinall
Research organisation: Hieracium Control Trust
Project number: 97HC01
Phone number: 03 443 7155
Location: Timaru
Fax number: 03 443 7150
Email: johnaspinall@xtra.co.nz
Funders: Meat & Wool Innovation and individuals

Project outline: The Hieracium Control Trust is charged with co-ordinating resources 'to ensure the development and implementation of biological control of hieracium, and restoration of affected areas'.

Hieracium is an invasive weed, with five species displacing palatable pasture species throughout the hill and high country. Up to one million stock units have been assessed as being at risk. The objective is to reverse the spread of hieracium.

In 1993-94 a survey of biological agents already on hieracium in New Zealand found no significant agents. A survey in Europe identified five insect species, a rust and a powdery mildew.

Following a survey of the rust in Europe, it was found to be already in Marlborough and has since been dispersed throughout the South Island and central North Island. Two more virulent strains have been introduced from Europe. An assessment at two sites indicated a reduction in growth vigour for Hieracium pilosella ranging from 11 to 22%.

A powdery mildew first identified in 1997 has since spread throughout most of the South Island.

The five selected insect species were studied to assess their biology and host range. Approval has been granted to import and field-release all five. A gall wasp, Aulacidea subterminalis, has been released at 53 sites, and establishment confirmed at 15 out of 37 sites. A plume moth, Oxyptilus pilosellae, has been released at one site, but has proved difficult to breed in captivity. A gall midge (Macrolabis pilosellae) was released at two sites in 2002, and a rearing colony established. A small release of a root-feeding hover fly, Cheilosia urbana, was made in 2002. A further importation of this insect and Cheilosia psilophthalma, a foliage-feeding hover fly, will be made in 2002.

The programme has established six transects to monitor the establishment of agents and resulting vegetation changes.

ENHANCING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY THROUGH IMPROVING MANAGERIAL ABILITY

Project leader: Dr Peter Nuthall
Research organisation: Lincoln University
Project number: 01LU14
Project number: 03 325 2811
Location: Lincoln
Fax number: 03 325 3839
Email: nuthallp@lincoln.ac.nz
Funders: Meat & Wool Innovation, Lincoln University

Project outline: The objective is to develop and test training packages to help sheep farm managers enhance their managerial skills. The targeted skills, or competencies, will be generic areas such as 'thinking ahead', 'deciding and acting in a timely manner', 'risk perception and management' rather than technical skills, which are usually well known. The modules will be based on interactive computer systems, because of the feedback and cost benefits. The final outcome will be a series of interactive software packages useable by farmers individually, or in groups.

Sheep and beef farm surveys show a wide range of profit levels on farms with similar soil and climate conditions. While these differences are partly due to the managers having different objectives, a significant cause is the variation in managerial skill. There is therefore potential to improve the outcomes farmers are seeking, at reasonable cost. Improving managerial ability requires farmers' time, but little else in the way of costs. Improved output will be achieved through a more efficient use of existing resources, rather than through farm expansion, with its associated increased debt.

The research will take three to four years, enabling comparisons between alternative approaches. The first step is to decide on the most important managerial competencies for the first three packages. To this end, there has been a national survey of 2300 farmers and 800 members of what was the Society of Farm Management. This data is currently being analysed. It appears that quite a wide range of skills are thought to be important, but that they tend to correlate round observation and planning, as well as implementation (acting on time, negotiating). When asked if they would use training packages, 70% said they would.

The next step is to involve a wide range of farmers in helping to design the computer-based packages (60% of farmers now use a computer). These will then be developed and sent out for testing. Once the best systems are isolated, they will be prepared for general distribution and use.