Guide to crop disease and management

Plant pests and diseases can lead to significant yield losses if they are not detected early. Early detection through the use of visual inspections, soil tests and diagnostic tools enable farmers to take timely action to improve both crop quality and economic viability. 

Farmers should monitor for symptoms like yellowing leaves, wilting, stunted growth, and unusual spots or lesions. Regular inspections help identify issues before they escalate, allowing for prompt interventions. For instance, in Western Australia, hay growers are advised to check for Septoria avenae blotch, a prevalent fungal disease, particularly in wet conditions that encourage its spread. Symptoms include dark, oval lesions on lower leaves, which can impede photosynthesis and impact overall crop quality. Stem rust and leaf rust (also known as crown rust) can be major constraints on oat production across all grain-growing regions of Australia as they can reduce yield and quality of both hay and milling crops. 

Advanced technologies, including imaging techniques and computer vision, are being researched to enhance detection capabilities. The Centre for Crop and Disease Management plays a vital role in developing best practices for identifying and managing prevalent diseases.

Whilst the early detection of crop disease is important, prevention of crop disease should always be the primary focus. Current best practices for crop disease management include implementing effective biosecurity measures, such as controlling access to farms, crop rotation, the use of resistant varieties, the use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, proper soil management and regular monitoring. 

The Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) collaborates with growers and researchers to develop sustainable solutions for managing major pathogens affecting wheat, barley, canola, and pulses. Their research focuses on optimising fungicide use, and improving resistance strategies and crop yield stability.

Innovative technologies are continually emerging to further bolster disease prevention efforts. For instance, the University of Tasmania has developed a novel bacterial inoculant for potatoes that promotes robust root growth and inhibits powdery scab, which is a major threat to potato production. 

Another solution is the Map & Zap® system, which uses AI to identify and map weeds at an early growth stage, with the aim of reducing the reliance on chemical herbicides. This technology has garnered interest from farmers and industry experts alike.

In grapevine disease detection, VinEye technology is making its mark. Developed through machine learning, this tool can quickly analyse photographs to identify vines infected with grapevine leafroll disease, to streamline the detection process and improve overall vineyard health.

By integrating these advanced technologies with best management practices, farmers can boost their crop resilience and ensure sustainable production for the future.

Effective plant and crop disease detection is vital for maintaining yield and sustainability. There are a number of plant disease and insect diagnostic technology companies leading the way in developing technologies to help farmers identify and manage crop diseases. Here are five note-worthy tech firms worth knowing: 

1. BioScout

BioScout is an Ag-Tech startup specialising in near real-time disease surveillance, automating crop disease detection with advanced sensor technology. Their system combines automated microscopy and machine learning to provide farmers with actionable airborne disease data before infections occur. This helps them to improve pest management and crop yields, as well as to reduce reliance on chemicals. 

2. Fermata

Fermata leverages image data from cameras to automate the scouting process for early pest and disease detection. Their Croptimus™ platform tracks pests and pathogens over time, allowing growers to effectively evaluate their mitigation efforts. Their technology streamlines operations, conserving energy and resources by reducing crop losses and minimising pesticide use. 

3. GoMicro

GoMicro, a South Australian agritech startup, addresses global food loss through innovative technology that enables the accurate detection of pests and diseases. By combining simple and advanced technologies, including microscopic attachments and blockchain, GoMicro aims to improve quality assessment standards for farmers. 

4. AgroScout

AgroScout offers a platform for detailed pest and disease monitoring at the leaf level. Utilising AI to analyse field images, AgroScout generates actionable reports that include precise GPS locations for targeted treatment. By employing off-the-shelf drones for efficient scouting, AgroScout enables farmers to achieve higher accuracy in pest management while reducing the need for chemical applications.

5. Ceres Imaging 

Ceres Imaging specialise in early detection of crop health issues, identifying problems 2-3 weeks before they become visually apparent. Using advanced algorithms and computer vision techniques validated by institutions like NASA and UC Davis, they detect water, nutrient, disease and pest issues. Their analytics tools aid in the diagnosis of plant health at the individual plant level which enables precise decision-making and performance tracking.