The focus of the project has been to provide support for growers and consultants of broadacre crops, as they attempt to implement IPM. The major pest species that attack cotton, are for the most part, not specific to cotton. Therefore, cotton‐growers and their advisers are managing these pests across their farms, not just in cotton.

Similarly, populations of natural enemies which are a vital component of IPM, breed, take refuge and feed across the landscape. With most cotton‐growers also being grain‐growers, they need ready access to information that encompasses the range of crops they grow. The aim of this project has been to facilitate the implementation of IPM throughout the farming system, raising awareness of the benefits, challenges and implications of different tactics. A farming systems approach was made possible through the joint funding of the project by CRDC and GRDC.

Achieving outcomes in a farming‐systems context has been possible through having a multifaceted project bringing together research, development and extension simultaneously. Working with groups of growers and advisers, maintaining regular two‐way communication with growers, consultants, agribusinesses and extension colleagues have been critical to facilitating the awareness of pest management strategies. Building on this awareness, the project has undertaken targetted research, and extension activities to provide detailed technical information that can be used in making management decisions. Critically, the project provided further support to growers and consultants attempting to implement IPM by ensuring access to researchers at industry meetings, field days and in person, to discuss the issues and respond to specific enquiries.

Collaboration with colleagues in research and extension, has been essential to achieving outcomes for industry in a range of area (an IRMS that accommodates both cotton and grains, SLW and other pest outbreaks). The industry networks and extension activities of this project have ensured the dissemination of research outcomes to industry as they have emerged, facilitating their uptake by industry. In addition, the project has facilitated discussion amongst researchers and industry via the annual IPM Forum, strengthening relationships and sharing research findings.

Farmscaping

Whilst many components of pest and natural enemy management on farms have

been explored, it is difficult to determine whether the implementation of these on individual farms will result in significant direct benefits. It seems likely that in highly cultivated regions, a landscape approach will be necessary to achieve quantifiable benefits. However, the extent of knowledge in Australia of the ecology (particularly hosts, movement) of even our major pest and natural enemy species is currently insufficient to design farmscapes or landscapes that may deliver benefits.