Integrated Weed Management (IWM)
for farm Advisers

Planned course date and location for 2008 coming soon

An intensive two-day course for farm advisers on integrated weed management (IWM) tactics in farming system.
(Maximum 20 per course)

This course is a desired competency for advisers providing weed management advice in crop systems.  It is best suited to advisers with at least one years field experience post their degree or diploma, who already have an understanding of herbicide weed control methods and seek to refine their weed management skills.

 It will be delivered by consultant John Cameron (ICAN) with input from weeds research and extension workers.

The main benefit will be the adviser’s ability to provide more strategic weed management advice to clients.  The course also dovetails with planned adviser accreditation programs being developed.  Participants who elect to be enrolled and assessed for accreditation and who successfully complete the required assessments, will receive a credit for 2-units of a Diploma in Agriculture from the CB Alexander Agricultural College Tocal.  Note that additional fees apply for those who wish to enrol for assessment and accreditation.

Participants will receive a first class resource kit including: RIM software, a 300+ page IWM Manual and an extensive array of PowerPoint presentations on IWM tactics developed by leading weeds experts.

This course has been developed in conjunction with the CRC for Australian Weed Management with support from growers and the federal government through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

 Key learning areas include:

Alignment with National Competency Standards
This course has been mapped to two national units of competency from the Rural Production Training Package:

-          (RTC5801A) Provide specialist advice to clients - and

-          (RTE5006A) Plan and manage long-term weed, pest and/or disease control in crops

These 2 units are at Level 5 (Diploma) standard.  For those who elect to be assessed for these competencies, successful completion of assessment tasks leads to a credit of 2 units at this level from the CB Alexander Agricultural College, Tocal.

Delivery Time
The workshop is two-days face to face.  Completion of assignments / assessments to prove competency are estimated to take an additional 20+ hours of self directed work time – plus time to read the IWM manual.

Resources
 

§         RIM software (RIM is ryegrass modelling software produced by the Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative based at UWA) (Workshops south of Dubbo only)

§         IWM Manual - ~300+ pages on weed management tactics and providing IWM advice to growers.  Includes detailed sections on 20 key weeds of cropping.  Developed by the CRC for Australian Weed Management.

§         IWM workshop course notes

§         Copies of all IWM Tactic Group (TG) PowerPoint presentations on CD, including:

o        Herbicide resistance

o        TG1 Deplete weed seedbank – Burning crop residue, predation, delayed sowing & tickle

o        TG2 Kill weeds - Knockdown herbicides

o        TG2 Kill weeds - Pre-emergent herbicides

o        TG2 Kill weeds - Selective post-em herbicides

o        TG2 Kill weeds - Wide rows interrow cultivation and spraying

o        TG3 Stop weed seed-set - Selective crop topping

o        TG3 Stop weed seed set - Spray topping crops & pastures

o        TG3 Stop weed seed set - Grazing management

o        TG4 Stop seed entering the seedbank - Seed collection at harvest

o        TG5 Stop seed entering the seedbank from external sources - On-farm hygiene

o        Herbicide tolerant Crops

o        Crop competition

o        Developing an IWM strategy

o        Using and delivering RIM

§         Major take home assessment tasks, guidelines and templates

Enquiries or to register interest in attending a course near you please contact John Cameron or Erica McKay: Ph: 02 9482 4930, Fx: 02 9482 4931 or  contact us for further information.