Pesticon 2022

 Pesticon 2022 - “Pest management in the digital age”, being held on 6-8 June 2022 at The Star on   the Gold Coast is just around the corner – tickets are selling fast!

 Don’t miss this chance to finally come together face to face with other pest professionals in an ideal l   learning and networking opportunity – REGISTER NOW

 Highlights of the conference include:

• Keynote presentations from Technology Futurist Shara Evans and AI / Big Data expert Matt Michalewicz
• A number of special panel sessions such as our “Ask the Expert” Workshop, “Going Digital” and our women’s panel on “The Business of a pest control business” -  all designed to engage and inform delegates.
• Dr Don Ewart will again enlighten us on Termites – this time “What happens when it goes wrong”
• Raja Mahendran – International Strategic Business Consultant on “Creating the Future of Pest Control”
• Stephen Doggett –  on “Pest Management & Climate Change”
• Tom Aldridge from Suburban Pest Management (2021 Pest Manager of the Year) – on “How to attract more clients and better technicians”
• Special guest speaker Rob Sams from LifeLine, along with a panel of industry representatives will cover the incredibly important topic of Mental Health.
• Plus topics such as Digital Marketing, Innovation, Training, Insurance, ….and much, much more!  

Now, more than ever, Pesticon 2022 will provide an ideal networking opportunity for those in the industry to come together to share their knowledge and experience.  On the social side of things, the conference will launch on the Monday evening with the Welcome Reception (Poolside) – kindly sponsored by Sentricon, then on the Tuesday afternoon, enjoy the “Demand the Best” Happy Hour Drinks in the Exhibition Hall – kindly sponsored by Syngenta and finally on the Wednesday evening, we finish off the conference with a bang with the announcement of the 2022 Pest Manager of the Year Awards – kindly sponsored by BASF.

The 2022 PWAPM Networking Breakfast sponsored by Ecolab aims to provide an interactive panel discussion on the challenges of combating administration expectations in a digital age. The breakfast will be held at The Star, Gold Coast – AEPMA (Pesticon) Conference on Tuesday 7th June from 6:30am to 8am. The Networking breakfast provides a great opportunity for like-minded women to meet and discuss the challenges they face. This breakfast is open to women delegates attending the Pesticon conference and PWAPM members. There is limited seating so you will need to register, and it will be on a first in basis, tickets are selling out fast. Please click here to book. 

The conference wouldn’t be complete without the trade show and this year, the Exhibition Hall will be the hub of the conference.  A huge range of suppliers will be on display with the latest in digital advancement, tips from traditional treatments to practical ideas on how to improve your business.  
 
After such a long time apart, we would urge all members of the pest control community to attend this important event. For more information and to register, visit the conference website. 

We look forward to seeing you all in person on The Gold Coast! 

Innovation in Pest Management Award

"The future belongs to pest managers who are innovative to face the changes in the pest management industry."

Nominations for the new "Innovation in Pest Management Award" are now open. 

This new annual award (kindly sponsored by Bayer) recognises a pest control company or individual, for introducing a new and innovative project, initiative or activity that drives organisation change in the pest management industry. 

Applicants will be judged by their excellence in the following criteria:

• Innovation – Evidence of innovation through the introduction of a new method, project initiative or activity designed to improve on what is currently available in the pest management industry.
• Outstanding features which sets it apart from common practice
• Tangible benefits – eg social / economic
• Efforts in building a dynamic work environment

In order to be eligible for the Award, an applicant must be a licensed and practising pest manager or pest managment business in Australia. Any pest management firm operating in Australia is eligible to enter regardless of AEPMA membership.

All entry forms should be completed by COB 20th May 2022 with the winner announced at Pesticon 2022.

Please visit the AEPMA website for further information.

AEPMA AGM Reminder 

The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association will be held on the 6th June 2022 4.30pm - 4.45pm at the Star Gold Coast.  

The AEPMA Branch AGM dates are as follows:

• AEPMA Victoria Branch 5th May 2022 @ 2pm Agserve Offices 2/247 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne
• AEPMA NSW Branch 7th May at 9.30am Tea Gardens Country Club Board Room/ Zoom 
• AEPMA SA Branch 11th May @ 4pm via Zoom

**Please note only current Financial AEPMA members can attend an AGM**

PWAPM - 2022 National Networking Breakfast

The 2022 PWAPM Networking Breakfast sponsored by Ecolab will host a variety of speakers and panels from women who have advanced in the pest management industry. The breakfast will be held at The Star, Gold Coast – AEPMA (Pesticon) Conference on Tuesday 7th June. Breakfast guests will present on industry trends, business learnings and opportunities. This event aims to connect and foster constructive conversation between women in the pest management industry.

The winners of the Trainee and Administrator of the Year Award will be announced at the breakfast. 
This will be an opportunity to be in a room with like-minded people and meeting experts and leaders face to face. This is an opportunity for women to meet some of their business influences, having the opportunity to be in the same room as them and listen to how they approach business.

This breakfast is open to PWAPM Members and women delegates attending the Pesticon conference. There is limited seating so you will need to register, and it will be on a first in basis. 

Please click here to book.  

Thank you to our major sponsor Ecolab

AEPMA Branch Update

AEPMA Queensland Branch – AGM

The AEPMA Queensland Branch held their AGM via Microsoft Teams on the 27th April 2022. 

Thank you to everyone who attended, and congratulations to John Murray who has been re-elected as AEPMA Branch Delegate - Queensland.

A report by Chairman John Murray is available here. 

West Indian Drywood Termite Program

Officers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be at the Garrards Roadshow from 9 May 2022 to discuss the transition of the West Indian drywood termite (WIDT) program to community management. 

Throughout this transition period, DAF will be providing opportunities to train and better equip the pest control industry to detect, report and manage this pest.

Officers will also be providing pest technicians with an update on research initiatives and the progress on seeking alternative treatments of WIDT. 

If you are not able to attend and you would like more information, call us on 13 25 23.

The Rapid team are super excited to be counting down the days to AEPMA’s Pesticon 2022

This year’s event will see Rapid sponsor the “Network Lounge” – right by the coffee cart, it’s the perfect place to catch up with colleagues and suppliers, meet with our trainers and technical experts and just enjoy each other’s company.

Rapid encourages all businesses in the pest management industry to register for Pesticon, if you haven’t already, and use the opportunity to grow your knowledge and get up to date with how the digital world is changing the industry.

We put together a little video to share why we’re excited about supporting AEPMA’s Pesticon on the Gold Coast this year. 

An Australian Game Changer for Treating Invasive European Wasps

“Since the launch of Vespex European wasp treatment solutions in March 2020, many communities across Australia have breathed a sigh of relief.  This has drawn attention to the work being done by Vespex Accredited Specialists,” said Rowan Gregson, Technical Solutions Advisor at Sundew Solutions.

“Recently our Sundew Vespex Accredited Specialist Mike Squires, received an official commendation in this year’s Froggatt Awards from the Invasive Species Council of Australia for his on-going work in eradicating European wasps in the NSW Southern Tablelands,” explained Rowan.

The Froggatt Awards is run by the Invasive Species Council of Australia and is named in honour of Australian entomologist Walter Froggatt who was a lone voice lobbying the federal government to exercise caution when the cane toad was released into Australia in the 1930’s to control beetle infestations in the sugar cane industry.

Invasive species are now one of the key threats to Australia’s natural environment, but their continued arrival and spread is all too often neglected as a conservation issue.

The Froggatt awards are given to those who have made a major contribution to protecting Australia’s native plants and animals, ecosystems and people from dangerous new invasive species. 

“Around Australia, Councils and Government departments are starting to request the use of Vespex by pest controllers as they realise the potential for long term eradication when following a proper programme. The Sundew Vespex European Wasp Accreditation ensures that users are educated and know the ins and outs of the product from day one,” explained Rowan.

In the ACT some inroads to population reduction were made in Spring 2021 where 180 Dominator traps were deployed and around 600 Queen European Wasps were trapped in the following 14 days. Every queen captured equals one less European wasp nest the following season. A much larger program is mooted for next season.

Queen trapping is now becoming a very common endeavor both in Spring, as new Queens finish their hibernation to build new nests, and in Autumn when young Queens are emerging from nests to mate and then hibernate.

“When combined with direct destruction and remote elimination this three pronged approach has the potential to start the eradication of the scourge that European Wasps are, from this country,” said Rowan.

Where pest controllers are benefitting most from this new market segment, is by setting up trapping and baiting programs in places where in previous years the only way to treat European Wasps was to directly treat the nest with Starrdust. 

Now whether the nest can be found or not, the colony can be remotely eliminated using Vespex with the addition of Sundew Ensnare PRO 50 g/L indoxacarb SC, and Vespex Dominator traps can be set up with Vespex to capture queens at both ends of the season.

“Some forward-thinking pest controllers are taking the risk out of European Wasp treatments by remotely baiting all colonies even when they can be found, as this reduces the risk of accidental injury from stinging, the potential for falls when accessing nests at height or confined space risks,” continued Rowan.

The Vespex European Wasp Accreditation enrolment can be found on the Sundew website  Enrolment and accreditation takes under two hours to complete and is done online.

The Sundew Vespex range of European wasp solutions can be purchased from Agserv, David Grays, Garrards and Globe. 

To explore how you could use Vespex in your Pest Control Business feel free to call Rowan on 0422 403 556.

2022 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series

The registration page is now open for the 2022 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series – ‘Prevent. Detect. Respond Protect.’

The 6-part series will explore a range of case studies, policies, initiatives and research from across the biosecurity system that work together to protect our environment, cultural heritage and way of life from the impacts of invasive pests, weeds and diseases.

Each webinar will be 90 minutes, including three speakers and 30 minutes of dedicated discussion time where you can ask questions to the presenters. 

To register for the webinar series CLICK HERE to visit the Eventbrite registration page. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite. Joining details (the Microsoft Teams link) and full program will be emailed from the Environmental Biosecurity Office prior to each webinar. 

Webinar dates

Dates for each webinar are below. Please remember to add a reminder in your calendar so you don’t forget!

Prevent 

• Webinar 2 - Thursday 12 May, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)

Detect 

• Webinar 3 - Thursday 23 June, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)

Respond

• Webinar 4 - Thursday 4 August, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)Protect 
• Webinar 5 - Thursday 15 September, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)
• Webinar 6 - Thursday 27 October, 12:30-14:00 (AEDT)

If you would like to watch recordings from last year’s webinar series, please visit the 2021 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series information page. 

A Western Australia mother is "eternally grateful" for the off-duty doctor who happened to be close by after she was bitten by a brown snake in Karijini National Park.

Megan Brouwer was hiking with her family on Sunday when she was bitten by Australia's most venomous snake.

"I turned around and saw it slithering off and thought 'gee, that was a close call' and he said 'no it was actually on your feet and it was striking at you'," Ms Brouwer told 9news.

"I had a puncture wound and some fresh blood and had a bit of a panic then of what to do"

Read more here.

Credit – 9 news

The rats were relentless, said Hank Bower, who has lived on Lord Howe Island for 15 years. At night, they would run up and down the trees, eat food, destroy gardens, destroy the native environment and push animals to extinction. As if to taunt those on the island, they would also leave paw prints in the sand in the morning.

“We would distribute five tonnes of rat bait to the community every year to keep numbers down and we couldn’t keep them at bay,” Bower, who is also the manager of world heritage and environment with the Lord Howe Island Board said.

The rats had called the World Heritage-listed island their home since about 1918, and an estimated 210,000 plagued the island. House mice are thought to have come to the island as early as 1860 and added to the ecological difficulties. But three years ago, an eradication program was put in place. Now the island’s ecosystem is thriving, with native animals and fruit making a quick return.

“What is unfolding is an ecological renaissance, since the rodents have gone, the catchphrase is: ‘I’ve never seen that before’,” Bower said. “There’s a vine which we didn’t know what the fruit looked like, people are taking photos of insects and sending them to the Australian Museum who are saying we’ve only got three of those on record ever but we are seeing hundreds of them. Everything is blooming, all the plants are flowering and we are seeing a carpet of seedlings.”

Read more here

Credit – Sydney Morning Herald

Foxes and cats are knocking out Australia's wildlife with a devastating one-two punch

The combination of feral cats and foxes is inflicting a staggering annual death toll on Australia's native wildlife.

Foxes and cats combined are killing more than 2.6 billion mammals, birds, and reptiles every year
Foxes dominate in the southern forested areas, whereas cats are more widespread.

A number of control measures are available and need to be ramped up to avoid more extinctions
Their ability to take down different prey, and their capacity to flourish in different habitats, means they are putting immense pressure on the survival of a number of native animals across a large portion of the country

And where their diets and range overlap, they're delivering a one-two punch to some of our most vulnerable species.

Read more here

Credit – ABC News 

AEPMA Pesticon 6th-8th June 2022 - Star Gold Coast 

• AEPMA Victoria Branch AGM - 5th May 2022 @ 2pmAgserve Offices 2/247 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne
• AEPMA NSW Branch 7th May at 9.30am Tea Gardens Country Club Board Room/ Zoom 
• AEPMA SA Branch 11th May @ 4pm via Zoom

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

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