AEPMA was pleased to host the 2016 FAOPMA Conference on the Gold Coast last month.  The turnout exceeded expectations with over 500 delegates, making this the most successful AEPMA Conference to date, and feedback from the event has been very encouraging.

We would like to thank all of those who attended and hope that you took a lot away from the conference.  Special thanks go to our sponsors and exhibitors for their continued support.  Work now begins for us to deliver an even better event in 2018.  See you there!

FAOPMA 2016 - Proudly Sponsored by:

The AEPMA golf day, held last week in Perth at the Collier Park Golf Course was once again an outstanding success.  The weather, a balmy 25 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, set the scene for a great day of golf.

40 players took to the course with the drinks cart following closely behind to keep everyone refreshed and hydrated on such an outstanding day.

After a day of fierce competition, the players headed to a local Chinese restaurant for the presentations.  Congratulations go to the winning team, comprising Brett Clark from All in One Pest Control, John Chambers from Chambers Pest Solutions, John Ralph from Sherwood and Richard Douglas from Globe.

AEPMA would like to thank our sponsors:- Bayer, Sundew Solutions, FMC Australasia, Globe Australia, Dow AgroSciences Australia, Syngenta Australia, Sherwood Chemicals Australasia, David Gray & Co Ltd, Ensystex Australia, Adama, Sumitomo Chemical Australia, Starkeys Products, Dummuster and Liphatech.

AEPMA would also like to particularly thank Richard Douglas from Globe and William Killen from Ensystex Australia for their tremendous effort in putting together this fantastic event.

We hope to see you all there again next year!

A report, recently released in the Austral Entomoloy Journal, demonstrates for the first time conclusively that bed bugs (notably the Common bed bug, Cimex lectularius) can induce a potentially dangerous (and possibly even deadly) systemic reaction in individuals repeatedly exposed to bed bugs.

To summarize, two bed bug researchers had been exposed to bed bug bites over time (either due to being bitten while working in active infestations or through voluntary exposure to maintain colonies). Both researchers after being bitten one day with relatively small bed bug numbers, developed a widespread rash with itching, indicative of a serious systemic reaction. Both were admitted to an Emergency Department for treatment and subsequently made a full recovery.

This report demonstrates how bed bugs can be a serious threat to the health of the community. If people are constantly exposed to bed bug bites (especially in low income housing), then the effects can be extremely deleterious to the individual

Restaurants and food-handling establishments attract a wide variety of pests, making them high-pressure accounts that require trained technicians to accurately pinpoint and treat problem areas. It is important to frequently visit these accounts to confirm your control methods are working.

Servicing these kind of establishments is exceptionally competitive, call backs can be extremely detrimental to a pest controller’s profitability and time. Furthermore, negative reviews passed between restaurant managers can impact a pest controller’s ability to win new business.

Click here to read more

Port Stephens and Newcastle residents should check their pest controller is licensed following a report of a rogue operator in the area.

EPA Executive Director of Hazardous Incidents and Environmental Health, Sarah Gardner, said people should demand to see an operator’s Pest Management Technician licence before they agree to any work being done.

“Pesticides can pose a serious threat to the health of operators, people and pets and the environment if not used properly.  The right product needs to be matched to the job,” she said. 

“By engaging a licensed pest technician, you can have confidence that that person has undertaken the appropriate training to apply pesticides safely in your home.”

Click here to read more

***Available early November***

Maxforce Activ is the first fit-for-purpose maintenance gel on the Australian market. 

•    Maxforce Activ utilises a new bait matrix technology combined with the patented blue beads that have been so successful in Maxforce Fusion which provide unsurpassed attraction to adult and nymph cockroaches. 
•    It combines with a new active ingredient for cockroach control and an ideal rotation partner with other maintenance gels. 
•    Maxforce Activ controls all life stages of cockroaches and provides economical protection against developing cockroach populations in commercial and domestic accounts. 

Bayer has created this product from the ground up

Click here to read more

Heather Bonney, daughter of the late AEPMA Life Member, Frank Bonney (1928 – 2012), has recently written a book about her father.  Here, she writes about her father’s times in the pest management industry prior to his career as a Champion water skier:-

“Dad’s interest in pest control started when he was very young when he went to work for his uncle Alan Smith at his dairy farm in Gippsland, Danenong.  He later branched out with his brothers and ventured towards Berri, South Australia with Uncle Harold and set up F L Bonney (later Adelaide Pest Control) in Walkerville South Australia.  He then headed for Mildura where he met and married my mum.  There was a double wedding as his brother, Claude married my mum’s sister (my Auntie).  At this time, my dad and Uncle Claude set up Bonney Bros Pest Control...."

Click here to read more

Australia’s litany of fearsome fauna seems to have a new entry.  Added to deadly snakes, man-eating crocodiles and poisonous jellyfish comes Hermie the huntsman, a spider so unusually large and strong that it had no problem carrying a sizeable mouse up the outside of a fridge.

Hermie’s feat was captured on film by Jason Wormal, a tradesman from Coppabella in Queensland, who was heading out to work in the early hours of Monday morning when he says he received an offer from a neighbour that he couldn’t refuse.

Click here to read more

Thanks to all our customers in Australia that participated in the ALTRISET Promotion. 15 lucky customers and suppliers were flown to Seattle on October 14 to visit this great city and get to attend PestWorld. 

At PestWorld, we got to opportunity to see what happens in the US pest industry. The attendees also got to meet the Syngenta US and Global team. Syngenta is a key sponsor of PestWorld and the Crown Awards.  Their exhibit at the trade show demonstrated Syngenta’s assurance and partnership programs and gave Australian attendees the opportunity to test their knowledge against the locals with the Syngenta pest trivia competition.

Day 3 at PestWorld gave all delegates the opportunity to learn about Syngenta’s global initiatives and commitments to providing a life uninterrupted from Jeff Cox, Global Head of Lawn and Garden, Syngenta.

Outside of PestWorld our ALTRISET competition winners got to tour the Boeing facility and see manufacturing excellence from the world leading plane manufacturer.  Attendees also visited the Seattle Space Needle and many of Seattle fantastic restaurants and bars.

Everyone really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity this promotion gave them. We plan to continue our support of the pest control industry and the growth of ALTRISET. 

A proposal for harmonisation of licensing and training requirements for users of agvet chemicals has been prepared by the Agvet Chemicals Task Group (ACTG). The ACTG comprises members from each state and territory government and the Australian Government. 

The ACTG is now seeking your feedback on the attached proposal, included in a paper that will form the basis of training and licensing discussions at the upcoming Stakeholder Roundtable on 9 November 2016. 

Click here to view proposal

We would appreciate your feedback by 9 November 2016 via agvetpolicy@agriculture.gov.au. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the ACTG Secretariat via agvetpolicy@agriculture.gov.au.

It’s time for QLD members to celebrate.

Please join the AEPMA QLD Branch for a Christmas Celebration BBQ:

Come along for a relaxed afternoon of fun and festivities for all the family (partners & children welcome)

Date:   Sunday 4th December, 2016
Time:  12.00pm onwards
Venue:  Hendra, Brisbane – address to be advised by email upon RSVP (swimming pool at venue.  Bring swimwear).

Please RSVP by 30th November (at the latest) to the AEPMA National Office on 1300 307 114.

AEPMA welcomes any contributions or suggestions for articles that you feel are relevant to the industry. Simply forward to info@aepma.com.au.

Or do you have something to say about an article you’ve read in the Newsletter? Why not leave your feedback on our Facebook page.

• AEPMA QLD Branch Christmas Party