INTEGRATED CONTROL AND COST REDUCTION IN PEAR ORCHARDS OF THE GOULBURN VALLEY, AUSTRALIA

Victoria's Goulburn Valley produces 84% of Australia's pear crop. The complex of economically important pests is made up of four species: codling moth, Cydia pomonella, lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, longtailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus and twospotted mite, Tetranychus urticae. Each of these species, except C. pomonella, can be controlled within integrated pest management (IPM) systems. Control of C. pomonella is completely dependant upon broad spectrum insecticides. Adoption of IPM in a commercial orchard reduced the cost of chemicals required for pest control by 48% in the second year of adoption. A similar saving was achieved for the cost of applying chemicals. The most substantial saving was in the purchase and application of acaricides.