‘Big task ahead to achieve food security by 2020’

Eminent experts in agriculture and horticulture on Tuesday cautioned that the country had a challenging task of increasing its food production from the present 240 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2020, if it has to take care of the food security of its increasing population.

The task is challenging as the availability of land for agricultural operations is shrinking owing to urbanisation, and the availability of water is also reducing in contrast to the population that has been increasing at a fast pace, the experts noted in a panel discussion on ‘Technology as a driver of growth: ensuring farm prosperity’, organised in Bangalore by the IndoAsiancommodities.com, a website dedicated to agriculture and commodities trade.

Karnataka Krishi Mission Chairman S.A. Patil noted that food production had to be further increased to 325 million tonnes by 2025 in tune with the increase in population.

“The task has become further challenging as the present production level of 240 mt itself is a record for the country as such a bumper yield has been harvested for the first time, powered by a good monsoon in most of the States during the previous agricultural season,” Dr. Patil said. Stressing the need to adopt various technologies to increase productivity to achieve the stiff target, he pointed out that at present, there was a huge potential for increasing productivity levels in various food crops, including rice. While India produces only 2 to 2.1 tonnes of rice per hectare, the rice productivity level was as high as 6 tonnes an acre in China and 9 tonnes in Vietnam, he said.

Farmers’ role

Speaking on the occasion, K. Narayana Gowda, Vice-Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore, said the farmer’s role would be crucial in achieving the food production target. “If at all we have to achieve this target, we need to stop the trend of farmers quitting farming due to low returns. We must instil confidence among farmers by increasing their incomes from agricultural operations and ensuring that they lead quality lives,” he said.

To make agriculture a profitable venture, adequate infrastructure facilities should be provided in rural areas, including marketing support, and help farmers adopt latest and innovative farm technologies, he said. Dr. Gowda — who got the ‘Best agricultural extension scientist of the country’ award for his work in 75 villages of Doddaballapur taluk where farmers’ incomes increased several folds by adopting integrated farming — said innovative measures, such as forming farmers’ groups should be considered for reducing agricultural input costs and increasing income.

Speaking on the occasion, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Director Amrik Singh Sidhu explained how the horticultural sector had become a sunrise sector with huge potential for earning high revenues. Even as the growth rate of the agriculture sector had remained low, the growth rate of specific sections in horticulture, such as vegetables, spices and flowers had increased sharply, he noted. Komarla Hatcheries Southern operations vice-president Narendra Pashupathy also spoke on the occasion.

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Drought-stricken states welcome rain from Isaac Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/08/29/4176047/drought-stricken-states-welcome.html#storylink=cpy

JOSH FUNK

OMAHA, Neb. -- The remnants of Hurricane Isaac could bring welcome rain to some states in the Mississippi River valley this week, but experts say it's unlikely to break the drought gripping the Midwest.

Along with the deluge of rain expected along the Gulf Coast when Isaac makes landfall, the National Weather Service predicts 2 to 6 inches of rain will fall by Sunday morning in eastern Arkansas and southeast Missouri, much of Illinois and Indiana and parts of Ohio.

Those areas are among those hard hit by the drought that stretches from the West Coast east into Kentucky and Ohio, with pockets in Georgia and Alabama.

The rain that falls inland likely will ease, but not eliminate, drought because those areas are so dry, said Mark Svoboda, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center.

Arkansas rancher Don Rodgers said his area is short 17 inches of rain this year. He said even a couple of inches from Isaac would make a significant difference because he would have water for his cattle and might be able to grow some forage for this winter.

"I'm very sorry for the people in the path of this hurricane. I'm just praying we can get some of the benefit from it up here," said Rodgers, who lives in Crawford County, a rural area near the Oklahoma border.

Heavy rain, especially if the storm pushes into the Ohio River Valley, would improve traffic on the Mississippi River, where low water levels have been a problem for weeks, National Weather Service hydrologist Marty Pope said Tuesday.

Pope said any rise in the river would help clear clogged shipping channels, which have caused temporary closures.

"If that happens, it would help us out quite a bit," Pope said.

The low water levels also have prompted companies to reduce loads on barges carrying goods ranging from grain to gasoline, which can mean big losses for shippers.

Port of Greenville, Miss., Director Tommy Hart said he has been praying for rain for weeks but it's not clear yet how much Isaac will help.

"I may have prayed too hard, I don't need a hurricane," he said Tuesday.

Isaac has been gaining strength and it officially became a Category I hurricane Tuesday before making landfall.

The storm's path may change, but the drought is so widespread that the rain is certain to be welcomed in most areas that get it.

More than half of all U.S. counties have been identified as natural disaster areas this summer, mostly because of drought. Conditions are especially bad in the corn belt.

Nearly all of Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and more than two-thirds of Iowa are in the worst two stages of drought.

But Svoboda said a high pressure system over the Great Plains this week will keep Isaac's moisture from reaching much of that area. And Iowa may be too far north to see significant rainfall since the storm will have dropped much of the moisture it picked up in the Gulf by the time it hits there.

Farmers have been hoping for rain all summer, as drought damaged corn, soybeans and other crops.

But Missouri farmer Will Spargo said Isaac is arriving too late in the season to help much. The rain could even slow the corn harvest if fields become too muddy to support combines and grain trucks.

"We've gone months and months without rain, and now here it is at harvest that we're getting rain," said Spargo, who grows corn, soybeans and rice near Neelyville, Mo.

But farmers and ranchers in the path of the storm still were looking forward to the rain because anything that improves soil moisture will help them next year.

Flooding can be a concern anytime too much rain falls quickly in an area, but officials in Arkansas and Missouri said they weren't too concerned because the ground is so dry that it should be able to absorb the rain. And streams and lakes in the area should be able to handle runoff because they're so low.

With as dry as this year has been, many people would probably welcome the moisture even if it is accompanied by some flooding, Arkansas climatologist Michael Borengasser said.

"We'll take all of it we can get," Borengasser said.

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Farm tour highlights Arkansas agriculture

Congressman Rick Crawford
This week I traveled our First District and listened to the challenges farm families are facing. Even though the House of Representatives did pass an important drought relief package, at every stop on my Farm Tour producers expressed the need for a five-year Farm Bill to provide security for the future. I will not stop working until a Farm Bill is signed into law. Instead of attending my party’s national convention, I will be in Arkansas advocating for responsible farm policy and ensuring families are getting the help they need in the wake of devastating drought conditions.
Agriculture is the number one industry in Arkansas. Our district is home to a great variety of agriculture interests. In the fertile Mississippi River Delta we grow cotton, rice, corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts and even catfish. In stark contrast to the Delta stand the Ozark Foothills where we have poultry, cattle, dairy and timber producers. More rice is produced in our congressional district than any other district in the nation. In fact, our district is responsible half of all rice produced in the United States.  Annually, agriculture in Arkansas is a $16 billion economic powerhouse that employees over 260,000 Arkansans.
At visits across our district this week I was able to hear directly from producers about the challenges they are facing. In Smithville, cattle farmers told me how the drought is hurting their bottom line. In Pocahontas, I was on hand for the grand opening of a new peanut buying point that will help farmers in our district diversify their crop production. At a fish farm in Paragould, I was impressed with the superior quality standards in place, which makes American farm-raised fish the best in the world. In Stuttgart, I visited one of the largest rice mills in the country and talked about trade opportunities to expand market reach. At our visit to Arkansas State University I was impressed by their efforts to make bio-fuels more accessible for farm operations, while paving the way for long-term sustainability.
Agriculture is truly the lifeblood of our district and a responsible Farm Bill is needed to ensure our rural communities are not left behind, and have the certainty and security farm families need to stay in business. While the First District is home to some of the most diverse agricultural production in the world, every single producer’s message to me was the same: we need a Farm Bill. I was proud to join Democrats and Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee to pass the Farm Bill out of committee. Farm legislation is too important to be used as a political football. So when Congress goes back into session I will exhaust every option possible until a Farm Bill is signed into law.

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Horticulture and livestock could fetch billions of dollars: stakeholders

IQBAL MIRZA

Horticulture and livestock, the most neglected sectors, if properly upgraded could turn the tables and fetch billions of dollars to meet the foreign exchange requirements, so desperately needed by the country under pressure, according to stakeholders here.

Horticulture needs improvement in quality, post harvest care and cold chain infrastructure, while livestock suffers from lack of global food safety standards, cohesive supply chains and marketing system. Stakeholders explained that these two sectors which have unlimited potential need to be addressed as follows: Challenges which are increasing for horticulture, one of the most vibrant sub-sectors of agriculture, relate to the quality of produce. Unfortunately we have been riveted to increasing production and not so much on improving quality.

They are unhappy with the performance of Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) which carries the mandate to develop this sector. For all practical purposes it looks a 'dormant' body as it has nothing worthwhile to claim what it has contributed towards the development of this sector which has big potential of expanding and earning much needed foreign exchange for the country. Attempts made from time to time to seek information about its plans to enhance exports always remained unanswered and unattended.

Pakistan needs to broaden its export horizons, and shipping higher volumes. The broader export strategy has helped boost significantly Pakistan's export earnings. Foreign exchange earnings through fruit and horticulture exports have risen every year but a lack of post-harvest and cold chain infrastructure is seriously hampering Pakistan's horticulture export potential.

Similarly, lack of awareness among Pakistani exporters about global food safety standards, cohesive supply chains and marketing systems are to be blamed for keeping the country's produce export volumes low. Ahmad Jawad, member, export committee, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce says if we take a look for a while, Pakistan is the 13th largest producer of citrus in the world. This crop has potential up to $400 million but currently it stands at around $100 million. At present, there is little or no government intervention and assistance to alter the situation.

Since 2006/07 Australia is assisting Pakistan under the Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP) to overcome certain constraints in Pakistan's agriculture exports sector but, surprisingly no fruitful progress is seen till date towards betterment of this crop. If we take the case of dates, Pakistan is one of 4th largest producer in the world and its exports could be enhanced up to $200 million with proper processing and packaging. Annual production of dates in Pakistan is estimated at around 535,000 tons, of which only 86,000 tons is exported and the rest is either consumed locally, or perishes for want of proper facilities. Since 1999, per acre yield of dates in Pakistan has not much increased, whereas the world-wide production has increased by 166 percent.

Stakeholders demand that the government needs to pay urgent attention towards production, processing and quality enhancement, preservation, research and marketing facilities to save and ensure growth of this potent source of foreign exchange. They emphasised that this fruit is potent to make many more millions of dollars if care is taken and due attention is paid towards value-addition. Similarly Pakistan is the second largest country in "Guava" production after India. Recent research shows that it has stood to its potential as it has been named as one of the two fruits, which have maximum antioxidants.

Pakistan's guava production increased from 19,000 tons in 1958 to 552,000 tons in 2008; an annual growth rate of 6.9 percent. Pakistan's major exports of guava are to UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar whereas Canada is the largest importer of guava from Pakistan accounting for 26 percent of the total guava exports.

Although Pakistan earns from guava about Rs 1 billion annually, a large portion of the crop is wasted due to short shelf life which could be saved, if value addition and processing plants are set up in the guava producing areas. It is unfortunate that Pakistan exports a negligible quantity of "apples" despite having potential of penetrating into the world apple market of 5 million tons. Owing to quality and standard crop yield Pakistan has sufficient potential to penetrate in the world market but there is need to develop this industry proper on proper lines.

Pakistan experiences massive post harvest losses in this crop. Balochistan province has 102,300 hectares under cultivation and produces 220,000 tons of apples per year besides KP which also has a massive share in apple production. In the field of floriculture, Pakistan has lot of potential to develop. Market demand of floriculture products is growing fast. Pakistan is a country of small farming households, where floriculture is the best option to enhance the income for the poor.

Floriculture is viewed as a lucrative enterprise for poverty alleviation. Some initiatives have also been taken for the promotion of floriculture to enter the global floriculture trade. Policymakers need to draw upon the experience of other countries. Every year we only stuck to organising flower shows in big cities to seek of tribute. We have favourable climate and cheap labour for growing these crops. They need much less land and water for production than other crops. Net profit on the investment is much higher for these crops compared with other conventional crops and though the products are in high demand all over the world, there is lack of resources and skilled persons to develop floriculture industry up to international standards.

Pakistan had negligible share in world-wide floriculture trade despite having fertile lands and best irrigation system to venture in this enterprising business which not only generates rural employment, but also fetches precious foreign exchange. Pakistan earns almost Rs 35 million in this regard but the room for growth is still there.

In order to compete with the world, we need to study the economic trends, such as shortage or over-supply of some flower species in particular seasons; as such factors result in changes in prices that may become too low to grow them economically.

Stakeholders advised the government to issue directives to banks for issuing soft loans to boost this industry. Halal meet is another area which needs proper exploration. Pakistan which has 159 million animals should take speedy initiatives in the international Halal food market by complying with the international codes as it would not only lead to earning a big foreign exchange but also stabilise the national economy.

Pakistan has extraordinary natural strengths, the country also faces massive infrastructure shortcomings which handicap the ability of many Pakistani businesses to effectively compete against firms from Australia, Brazil or even India." The Halal food market, at just over $640 billion a year world-wide, is one of the largest opportunities in the food and agribusiness sector. Presently our total meat exports stand at around $100 million and could surpass the $500 million mark easily in about five years subject to Livestock Departments establishing latest infrastructure and work on the marketing techniques.
Between 2001 and 2009, the global beef trade grew at an average of 10.4 per cent to reach just over $30 billion, according to data available from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It looks very pathetic that Pakistan's market share within this rapidly growing market is only 2.9 per cent. However, Pakistani exporters seem to be determined to have an increased share in this trade.
Brazilian animal is exactly the same as most of our breeds of cattle. The quality of meat is also the same. The only difference is their ability to market their meat better than us. Pakistan can easily displace Brazil as the Middle East's leading meat supplier.
Stakeholders urged the government to support horticulture/livestock sector of Pakistan in order to enhance export volume in coming years with proper incentives and policy and also take progressive initiatives to venture for the exploitation of export potential and to search more markets like South American countries, North Africa, Central Asian states and South Asian region. "We are in a position to take up this industry into billions subject to proper determination and could contribute heavy amount to the national kitty which will help us to get rid of international donors," stakeholders said.

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Soya dips

Soyabeans fell on Monday as investors took profits and unwound bull spreads after the market set a new peak, with traders watching for crop damage as Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the US Gulf Coast. Corn and wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were also lower, weighed down as new-crop November Soyabeans fell from a contract high of $17.60-1/2 per bushel as US crude oil tumbled 68 cents to settle at $95.47 a barrel.

Corn futures were down four straight sessions, but the December contract held around the $8-per-bushel level after setting a record high $8.49 on August 10 as the worst drought in 56 years devastated the crop in the United States. After the market closed, the US Department of Agriculture's crop progress report showed that 6 percent of the corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday, well below the 10 percent expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

The harvest was 6 percent complete in Illinois, the No 2 corn state, up from 3 percent the previous week. In top corn state Iowa, the harvest was 2 percent complete while in Nebraska, it was 4 percent, up from 1 percent previously. New-crop November Soyabeans fell 0.7 percent to end at $17.18-3/4. December corn was down 1.0 percent to end at $8.00-3/4, while December wheat was down 0.8 percent at $8.81-1/4.
Isaac was barrelling across the Gulf of Mexico after skimming past south Florida. Based on its current track, it was due to slam into the Gulf Coast between Florida and Louisiana Tuesday night or early Wednesday - the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans. Grain companies Cargill Inc and Archer Daniels Midland Co shut down some export elevators in Louisiana as a precaution.
Barge traffic between Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the US Gulf has been suspended due to the threat from Isaac, the Crescent River Port Pilots Association said. The Mississippi River is a major channel for the movement of grains produced in the Midwest farm belt to export terminals at the Gulf of Mexico for shipment around the world. Grain movement is set to pick up in the coming weeks as farmers in the Midwest - where 75 percent of the country's corn and soya crops are grown - begin harvesting in earnest. Cash market prices for Soyabeans in the Midwest have begun to fall in anticipation of the harvest, which was also seen weighing on futures, which have rallied to a record high after the worst drought in 56 years devastated crops. 

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'Mills to earn 35 percent profit'

Agriculture Forum Pakistan (AFP) Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal on Tuesday alleged that flour millers after fresh increase in flour prices will earn 35 percent profit by putting an additional load of Rs 34 billion on the urban population.
Reacting to the increase in flour prices here on Tuesday, Mughal during a chit chat with media claimed that the flour mills had bought wheat from the growers at Rs 25 per kilograms but would sell it at Rs 34 per kilogram to the masses. He said this might lead to hunger in the poor segment of the society and may force the salaried class to commit suicide. Facility of bread has also been snatched away from the masses after education, health and law and order. "In fact government has failed at every front," he alleged.
Mughal reminded the rulers that shortage of flour and increase in prices during the last days of Pervez Elahi government was the main reason behind his failure in the elections and now same drama was once again being staged. Agri Forum Pakistan (AFP) Chairman warned that if prices of flour are not brought down to Rs 30 per kilogram it might cause political demise of the present government.
He also suggested that minimum wages of the labour should be fixed at Rs 15,000 per month and salaries of government and private sector employees should be increased by 50 per cent to enable them to resolve the hardships they are facing due to prevailing price hike. 

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Wal-Mart Joins Alliance for More Sustainable Agriculture

The world's largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc has joined an alliance of other Fortune 500 companies, including Cargill and Kellogg Co, seeking to make agriculture more sustainable.

The Field to Market alliance was started three years ago by the non-profit Keystone Center to improve agricultural productivity and reduce the use of natural resources. It includes farm groups, grain handlers and food makers but Wal-Mart is the first retailer in the group and now its largest member.

"We have pretty ambitious goals to sell products that are sustainable and this is directly within that framework," Rob Kaplan, Wal-Mart's senior manager of sustainability, said of the new partnership.

The group studies major crops and works with farmers to make agriculture more environmentally friendly. A report released earlier this summer highlighted how six crops -- corn, cotton, potatoes, rice, soybeans and wheat -- are now being produced more efficiently than they were in the last three decades.

On one project sponsored by Field to Market, General Mills Inc worked with 25 wheat growers in Idaho to learn how to maximize the use of fertilizer and other products used in farming, such as seed, insecticides and herbicides.

Wal-Mart is seeking to eliminate 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015. Last year, the company said it turned 1.2 million pounds of cooking oil recovered from its stores into biodiesel, soap and a supplement for cattle feed.

Other members of the alliance include Bunge Ltd, Coca-Cola Co and the National Corn Growers Association.

 Original Article Here

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(Reuters) - The world's largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc has joined an alliance of other Fortune 500 companies, including Cargill and Kellogg Co, seeking to make agriculture more sustainable.

 Michael Hirtzer

The Field to Market alliance was started three years ago by the non-profit Keystone Center to improve agricultural productivity and reduce the use of natural resources. It includes farm groups, grain handlers and food makers but Wal-Mart is the first retailer in the group and now its largest member.

"We have pretty ambitious goals to sell products that are sustainable and this is directly within that framework," Rob Kaplan, Wal-Mart's senior manager of sustainability, said of the new partnership.

The group studies major crops and works with farmers to make agriculture more environmentally friendly. A report released earlier this summer highlighted how six crops -- corn, cotton, potatoes, rice, soybeans and wheat -- are now being produced more efficiently than they were in the last three decades.

On one project sponsored by Field to Market, General Mills Inc worked with 25 wheat growers in Idaho to learn how to maximize the use of fertilizer and other products used in farming, such as seed, insecticides and herbicides.

Wal-Mart is seeking to eliminate 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015. Last year, the company said it turned 1.2 million pounds of cooking oil recovered from its stores into biodiesel, soap and a supplement for cattle feed.

Other members of the alliance include Bunge Ltd, Coca-Cola Co and the National Corn Growers Association.

 Original Article Here

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European wheat futures edge higher in thin trade

European milling wheat prices edged higher on Tuesday, pulled by a rise on US grains markets, but volumes remained thin on a lack of new fundamental news, traders said. By 1050 GMT benchmark November on Paris-based milling wheat futures was 0.4 percent higher at 261.00 euros a tonne.
"The market is moving sideways. It is looking for a trend but if you read the latest news carefully it is rather bullish for grains," one trader said, referring to the latest crop ratings in the United States and concerns over potential damage from Tropical Storm Isaac. One trader also noted that November remained around technical supports at 259/260 euros, which it failed to break at the close the previous day.
Traders and analyst pointed to a strong euro against the dollar and tight world supplies as supporting elements but noted that poor economic outlook could weigh on demand and prices. In Chicago soybean futures fell for the second day on Tuesday as traders locked in profits from the summer rally on hopes that forecasts for rain could provide a boost to diminished crop expectations, traders said. Corn and wheat futures also fell G20 nations taking stock of the third global food price surge in four years will wait for September's crop report from the US Department of Agriculture before deciding whether to take joint action on the issue, France's farm minister said on Tuesday.
German prices were slightly firmer as Paris rose, while signs increased that Germany has gathered a good harvest despite earlier concern about summer rain. Standard milling wheat for September delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale up one euro at 266 euros a tonne with buyers at around 264 euros.
"The international markets are not providing a price lead today so some players are hesitant," one German trader said. "Attention remains on the weather in the US and the outcome of the Russian meeting on Friday." Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who co-ordinates farm policy, will discuss prospects for Russia's drought-hit grain harvest with Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov on Friday.
A sharply reduced Russian 2012 grain crop forecast, which the government recently cut to 75 million tonnes, has sparked concerns Moscow might ban exports, stoking a rally in global prices. "The German wheat harvest is now in the very last stages with only a few minor areas in the north still to be harvested," the trader said.
Germany's own harvest outlook changed greatly after a burst of sunshine in past weeks enabled very fast progress to be made after repeated rain had delayed the harvest start. Germany will harvest 22.8 million tonnes of wheat this year, slightly up on the 2011 crop of 22.7 million tonnes, Germany's leading grain trading house Toepfer International said on Thursday.

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G20 to wait for US crop report before food price action

PARIS: G20 nations taking stock of the third global food price surge in four years will wait for September’s crop report from the US Department of Agriculture before deciding whether to take joint action on the issue, France’s farm minister said on Tuesday.
Senior officials held a conference call on Monday on rising prices after drought in the United States and poor crops from Russia and the Black Sea bread basket stirred new fears about food supply and inflation.
“There will be a communication at the end of September. I will wait for the results given by the United States around Sept 12 on the latest estimates for corn supplies,” French Agriculture and Food Minister Stephane Le Foll told BFM TV.
The decision to wait 
for the USDA report was taken at a conference call between senior officials of France,
the United |States and G20 president Mexico on Monday. Representatives from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, the OECD and the International Food and Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) were also on the call.
The call was organised
in the framework of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), created by the G20 last year.
France, which currently presides over the G20 agriculture body had initially said a decision would be based on an AMIS report also due in mid-September.
Officials in the call, held via video conference, discussed the drought in the United States that lead to a surge in corn and soybean prices and a drought in the former Soviet Union that slashed wheat crops, but they stressed that rice prices remained stable as opposed to 2008 when food price spikes triggered unrest in poorer countries, the ministry said.
“The current market situation is thus worrying,” the French said in a statement, immediately adding however that “no threat is hanging over world food security.”
The head of the FAO called the G20 on Monday for coordinated action to ease worries about food prices. reuters

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Look for

Plants may wilt due to larval root feeding. Underground vegetables and tubers will have small burrowed tunnels. Leaves may have holes at the edges where adults feed.

Plants affected

• Roots of many garden ornamental and vegetable plants are attacked.

About Wireworm

• Wireworms are the larvae of Agriotes and Athous, species of click beetles.
• Eggs are laid below the soil between May and June.
• Newly hatched larvae are very small and white.
• Larvae grow to 3cm in length, and develop a tough, golden brown skin. They have three pairs of short, stout legs.
• Larvae feed on roots of plants, and burrow into tubers. Potatoes are particularly susceptible.
• The larval period can last up to four years.
• Larvae move up and down in the soil depending on moisture levels.
• Pupation occurs about 30cm below the soil surface in a small chamber.
• After three to four weeks adults hatch and remain in the soil to overwinter.
• Adults emerge in summer to mate.
• When overturned, click beetles propel themselves into the air by arching their back and snapping their head back. This action makes a clicking sound.

Treatment

Chemical

Products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on Wireworm

• There are no effective chemicals available for wireworm control.

Note: It is important to read manufacturer's instructions for use and the associated safety data information before applying chemical treatments.

Organic

• Regularly cultivate soil in spring and summer.
• Early lifting of susceptible crops will minimise damage.
• Encourage insectivorous birds by hanging feeders and bird boxes.

Prevention

• Inspect compost heaps for wireworms and remove any you find.
• Do not plant susceptible crops in known infested areas.
• Thoroughly turn soil in autumn to expose wireworms to predators.

• 
  

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Pests and diseases

Look for

Plants may wilt due to larval root feeding. Underground vegetables and tubers will have small burrowed tunnels. Leaves may have holes at the edges where adults feed.

Plants affected

Roots of many garden ornamental and vegetable plants are attacked.

About Wireworm

Wireworms are the larvae of Agriotes and Athous, species of click beetles.

Eggs are laid below the soil between May and June.

Newly hatched larvae are very small and white.

Larvae grow to 3cm in length, and develop a tough, golden brown skin. They have three pairs of short, stout legs.

Larvae feed on roots of plants, and burrow into tubers. Potatoes are particularly susceptible.

The larval period can last up to four years.

Larvae move up and down in the soil depending on moisture levels.

Pupation occurs about 30cm below the soil surface in a small chamber.

After three to four weeks adults hatch and remain in the soil to overwinter.

Adults emerge in summer to mate.

When overturned, click beetles propel themselves into the air by arching their back and snapping their head back. This action makes a clicking sound.

Treatment

Chemical

Products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on Wireworm

There are no effective chemicals available for wireworm control.

Organic

Regularly cultivate soil in spring and summer.

Early lifting of susceptible crops will minimise damage.

Encourage insectivorous birds by hanging feeders and bird boxes.

Prevention

Inspect compost heaps for wireworms and remove any you find.

Do not plant susceptible crops in known infested areas.

Thoroughly turn soil in autumn to expose wireworms to predators.

Read more »