The Burdekin district is ramping up efforts to tackle one of the sugar industry’s most persistent pests- the Greyback cane grub- through a coordinated trial involving Sugar Research Australia (SRA), local productivity services, and growers. The trial is aimed to assessing the effectiveness of two key insecticide treatments: granular and liquid imidacloprid.

 Led by Burdekin District Manager, Terry Granshaw, the trial is part of a broader district-wide plan to mitigate grub damage that has been increasing on local farms in recent seasons. The initiative is in response to rising concerns among growers about grub resurgence, particularly in areas previously considered low-risk.

“There’s been a noticeable increase in grub activity, and it’s impacting yields,” said Terry Granshaw. “We need a science-backed, regionally coordinated approach to determine what’s working best under local conditions.”

The project is being run in close collaboration with Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS), whose team is helping conduct grub digs in a selected randomly replicated trial paddock. These digs are essential for assessing post-treatment grub populations and gauging treatment efficacy.

Supporting this effort, SRA entomologists Dr Kevin Powell and Dr Samuel Bawa spent a day in the Burdekin assisting with the digs and sharing expertise on pest behavior and monitoring techniques. Their involvement underlines the importance of linking local trial work with national research capabilities.

Dr Powell emphasised the need for integrated pest management: “While chemical treatments remain a key tool, long-term solutions depend on understanding grub lifecycles and using targeted control strategies.”

The trial was established in plant cane and compares a controlled-release granular formulation applied at the fill in stage with a liquid imidacloprid product that can be applied from June to November. Both products were applied at the same time on the same day at maximum label rates on 30 July 2024.

This collaborative approach reflects the growing importance of adaptive management in the face of changing pest dynamics. More than 60 grub digs at multiple depths were completed on 8 April 2025. Data has been collected and analysed by SRA entomologists and statisticians. Results found no significant difference between the treatments.

The results of this trial were recently shared with industry stakeholders. More than 60 growers and industry representatives listened to SRA Weed Scientist Emilie Fillols and Terry Granshaw explain how to apply liquid imidacloprid as per label instructions, emphasising the importance of applying the product correctly and within the guidelines of the product label (a legal requirement).

Results from the trial will help inform best practice recommendations for Burdekin growers ahead of the next planting season.