Authors: Kaine, Geoff¹; Bewsell, Denise²

Source: International Journal of Pest Management, Volume 54, Number 3, July 2008 , pp. 255-265(11)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

The adoption of pest and disease management practices has been the subject of numerous studies. Unfortunately, there is little consistency in their findings with regard to the variables that influence growers' decisions to adopt these techniques. In this study we focus on context as a means of explaining the lack of consistency. We used the results of in-depth interviews and a mail survey to explore context as a predictor of Australian apple growers' behaviour with respect to the management of codling moth and pest mites. We found that climate, topography, spatial separation between orchards and the crop mix determined the type and intensity of pest and disease pressures experienced by growers. Given the types and intensities of pest and disease pressures present, the management practices growers used depended on the range and effectiveness of the control options that were available to them. We concluded that variables representing specific aspects of orchard context were the primary determinants of the particular combinations of pest and disease management practices used by apple growers, not variables representing demographic and general enterprise characteristics that have been proposed in past studies.

Keywords: adoption; Integrated Pest Management (IPM); apple growers; context; Australia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670870802065256

Affiliations: 1: Department of Primary Industries, Tatura, Tatura, Victoria, Australia 2: AgResearch Ltd, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand

Publication date: 2008-07-01

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