AAA Farms and Mason Fresh Produce in Werribee South, Victoria are trialling native vegetation insectaries on their farms to boost beneficial insect activity and better manage pests, prevent weeds and reduce soil erosion.
The growers worked closely with local agronomist Stephen Moore from E.E. Muir & Sons and Karen Thomas from the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority to design the site, source plants and organise the plantings.
VegNET Victoria (Northern, Western and South-Eastern) helped to facilitate discussions to kick off the trial back in 2019, and have since been instrumental in communicating progress and results back to industry.
This case study explains how the trial was developed, early results, next steps and practical tips for vegetable growers to set up an insectary on their farm.
