AV23017 Grower Survey: Social Thresholds for Pest Management

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* 1. Where are your main growing district(s)?

Northern NSW

Central NSW

Tristate

Central QLD

Far North QLD

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* 2. What is type of production system(s) do you have?

Conventional

Reduced-chemical

Biological control-enhanced

Organic

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What varieties do you grow?

Hass

Shepard

Reed

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Please rank these pest concerns in order of impact to you.

Thrips

N/A

Mirids - Citrus blossom bug

N/A

Mirids - Apple blossom bug

N/A

Mirids - Blossom bug

N/A

Fruit/Banana spotting bugs

N/A

Monolepta beetles

N/A

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* 5. Which minor pests do you think could be a threat if not managed properly?

Thrips

Mirids - Citrus blossom bug

Mirids - Apple blossom bug

Mirids - Blossom bug

Monolepta beetles

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How often is your orchard monitored for pests?

Weekly

Fortnightly

Occasionally

Critical growth stages only

Not all

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How confident are you in your current monitoring approach?

Very confident

Moderately confident

Not confident

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* 8. At what point do you decide to act against insect pests?

First detection

Low numbers but increasing

Moderate levels

Only when damage is visible

Other (please specify)

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* 9. What level of crop loss are you willing to tolerate before taking action?

	0%	<5%	5-10%	10-20%	>20%
Thrips	Thrips 0%	Thrips <5%	Thrips 5-10%	Thrips 10-20%	Thrips >20%
Mirids	Mirids 0%	Mirids <5%	Mirids 5-10%	Mirids 10-20%	Mirids >20%
Other hemipteran bug	Other hemipteran bug 0%	Other hemipteran bug <5%	Other hemipteran bug 5-10%	Other hemipteran bug 10-20%	Other hemipteran bug >20%

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* 10. What are your main triggers for spraying?

Pest numbers

Crop stage (e.g. flowering/fruit set)

Weather conditions

Previous experience

Advisor recommendation

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Which crop/insect factor most influences your pest management decisions?

Pest pressure

Crop stage

Weather conditions

Market quality requirements

Past losses

Other (please specify)

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* 12. How would you rate your risk tolerance?

Very low (act early)

Moderate

High (willing to wait)

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* 13. What concerns you most about spraying?

Cost

Pesticide resistance

Environmental impact

Market restrictions (MRLs)

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* 14. What concerns you most when delaying pest control?

Yield loss

Fruit quality

Market rejection

Pest outbreaks

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What economic driver influences your pest management decisions most?

Cost of spraying

Expected crop value

Market price

Labour availability

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Would you use a decision support tool that:

	Yes	No	Unsure
Predicts pest risk?	Predicts pest risk? Yes	Predicts pest risk? No	Predicts pest risk? Unsure
Recommends spray timing?	Recommends spray timing? Yes	Recommends spray timing? No	Recommends spray timing? Unsure
Integrates weather and monitoring?	Integrates weather and monitoring? Yes	Integrates weather and monitoring? No	Integrates weather and monitoring? Unsure

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* 17. Preferred format for a decision support tool

Mobile app

Website dashboard

Email alerts

Advisor-based

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Would you adopt a threshold-based system if it:

	Yes	No	Unsure
Reduced sprays?	Reduced sprays? Yes	Reduced sprays? No	Reduced sprays? Unsure
Maintained yield and quality?	Maintained yield and quality? Yes	Maintained yield and quality? No	Maintained yield and quality? Unsure
Was easy to use?	Was easy to use? Yes	Was easy to use? No	Was easy to use? Unsure

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* 19. What would help you reduce unnecessary sprays?

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* 20. Any additional comments?

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* 21. What is the biggest gap in current pest management?

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* 22. Would you like to discuss the project with a research team member?

Yes

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* 23. If yes to the last question, please provide contact details

Name

Mobile

Thank you for completing this survey for Hort Innovation Project AV23017

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.