IPM workshops for growers and consultants - lessons for R, D and E

Facilitating change in pest management practices, and ultimately the implementation of IPM (integrated pest management) is a significant challenge for research and extension practitioners. The field crops entomology group within the Queensland Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEEDI, formerly Department of Primary Industries) has a long history of researchers and extension officers working together, with industry, to promote the adoption of IPM (Brier et al. 2008) However, there has been limited formal evaluation of the extent to which these activities have resulted in sustained and/or progressive practice change in the grains industry. Over the past 10 years, there has been a concerted effort to promote IPM for pulses in the northern region. Over this period, 14 soybean and mungbean IPM workshops have been held in Queensland and northern NSW for around 400 growers and their advisors. In addition, pest management modules have been delivered to over 350 participants as part of 19 accredited mungbean, ten chickpea and four sunflower workshops. With this recent experience, it is a good time to reflect on what we are doing, how it is being done, the impact that it is having and how we may improve the adoption of IPM.