Olive lace bug remains an important pest for the Australian industry. Over the past year or so, it has been a major problem for many locations in NSW (particularly Hunter Valley), and south Western Australia.

One of the reasons has been the weather patterns that have favoured survival of the initial (and in some cases, later) generations of developing bugs. This means that monitoring and implanting management practices for the first generation is critical in reducing later-season problems. This webinar addresses these issues, as well as providing opportunities for growers to discuss this and other olive pest problems.

Presented by: Dr Robert Spooner-Hart, Research Associate Professor of Sustainable Plant Production Systems in the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University.

Dr Robert Spooner-Hart is Research Associate Professor of Sustainable Plant Production Systems in the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University. He has worked in IPDM RD&E in the horticulture industries for more than 35 years, including with the olive industry for over 25 years, and has led numerous industry projects.  He has published over 100 refereed journal articles and numerous industry articles, many on olives including the Olive Pest and Disease Field Guide, and has regularly presented research findings at national and international conferences. He was leader of the Hort Innovation project “An Integrated Pest and Disease Management Extension program for the Olive Industry”, the outputs of which can be accessed from http://www.olivebiz.com.au.