Beetles ravage dry pastures

Waikato's black beetle population has quadrupled to a 10-year high, costing Morrinsville farmers John and Carol Ralph, with the drought, an estimated $100,000 in lost milk production alone reports The Waikatio Times. The beetle larvae feed on grass roots, killing paddocks at a time, and the only solution is to resow with a black beetle-resistant variety. Mr Ralph, who farms 320 cows on Manhire Rd, said he was resowing some of his 113ha farm with Commando AR37 after the insect larvae, usually present in the soil, flourished through the drought and a mild winter. "We've been feeding black beetle as well as the cows," he said.The lack of grass to feed to cows, caused by the larvae and the drought, caused his farm's milk production to fall by 20,000 kg of milksolids, costing $100,000 in lost production. Usually the farm produces about 120,000 kg of milk solids per year. Re-sowing costs more than $500 per ha. AgResearch entomological Alison Popay said she measured 60 black beetle larvae per sq metre in Waikato paddocks sown with Commando AR1 four times the amount recorded last year. The last time black beetle was at such levels in the region was a decade ago and, before that, 25 years ago. Dr Popay said paddocks sown with AR37 contained only 20 larvae per sq metres."There's no chemical solutions resowing with AR37 is the best option, but there are other options," Dr Popay said. Tony and Robyn Hicks were thankful they planted black beetle resistant grass last season after 80 per cent of the pasture on their 80ha farm was damaged by the insect.