Urgent action needed to tackle hungry plant pest in sorghum and millet crops in Australia

Farmers want speedy access to a new chemical to help combat the rapid spread of fall armyworm in sorghum and millet crops. Grains Producers Australia wants urgent action so farmers to have another weapon in their armoury to tackle this new invader. One of the world's worst plant pests, fall armyworm only penetrated Australia's biosecurity defences early last year. The destructive caterpillar has already spread to Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and even down to Victoria. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has been asked by GPA to approve an emergency permit application for the use of chlorantraniliprole on sorghum and millet. The emergency use of the biopesticide Fawligen has already been approved. This latest proposed emergency permit for the insecticide is for use in all states for a period of three years. It is estimated that up to 150,000ha may be treated if approved. The use of chlorantraniliprole on sorghum and ...