Snails, slugs and slaters in Western Australia: Case studies of growers in WA's southern coastal region

OUTCOME

By February 2019, 80% of Albany and Esperance port zone growers that have identified crop damage from snails, slugs or slaters will understand the risks and costs of allowing these pests to establish and build up on their properties and make timely and effective management decisions.

OUTPUTS

1. By February 2018, approximately 20 growers will be identified as case study participants. By December 2018, these interviews will be completed.Liaise with key researchers, RCSN committee members, GRDC staff and broader industry contacts to identify growers in the Albany and Esperance port zones and in other states.

2. By November 2018, desktop studies will be completed for the first part of the booklet on:

• options for cleaning and/or processing grain at harvest to reduce snail numbers;

• information on the life cycle of snails, slug and slaters; the distribution of these pests in Australia and more particularly in WA; and current options to control. This latter information can be collected via desktop studies.

3. By December 10^th 2018, the first draft of ‘Snails, slugs and slaters in Western Australia: Case studies of growers in WA’s southern coastal region - An initiative of the Albany and Esperance port zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network’ will be delivered to GRDCs Western Regional manager and RCSN coordinator.

4. By February 2019, an e-book and 200 hard copy booklets ‘Snails, slugs and slaters in Western Australia: Case studies of growers in WA’s southern coastal region - An initiative of the Albany and Esperance port zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network’ will be delivered to the GRDC Western region manager, and the RCSN Co-ordinator.

5. A final report (using the correct final reporting format) is to be submitted by February 28th, 2019.