Pre-harvest Field Preparation

 Tree Marking

 Exclusion Areas

 Location of Log Landings 

Location of Skid Trails

http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/004/ac142e/ac142e02.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284871289_Pre-harvest_harvest_and_post-
harvest_strategies_for_organic_production_of_fruits_and_vegetables

Perform harvesting activity

https://www.google.com/search?
q=perform+harvesting+activity&oq=Perform+harvesting+activity&aqs=chrome.0.0.2153j0j8&sourceid=c
hrome&ie=UTF-8

Harvesting. Harvesting is the process of collecting the mature rice crop from the field.
Paddy harvesting activities include reaping, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning, and
hauling. These can be done individually or a combine harvester can be used to perform the
operations simultaneously.

****http://www.fao.org/3/ac142e/ac142e0d.htm

. Perform postharvest operation

In agriculture, postharvest handling is the stage of crop production immediately following
harvest, including cooling, cleaning, sorting and packing. The instant a crop is removed from the

ground, or separated from its parent plant, it begins to deteriorate.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314830922_Chapter_8_Harvesting_and_Postharvest_Handli
ng

*******https://www.extension.iastate.edu/Documents/MCMS/GAPSpostharvest.pdf
Monitor storage pest and diseases
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/Documents/MCMS/GAPSpostharvest.pdf

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mycrop/monitoring-insects-and-other-crop-pests

Monitoring insects and other crop pests

Correct identification of insect pests is necessary in order to avoid economic damage being
sustained and retain beneficial insects.

Why monitor insects?

 Often it may be difficult to identify the insects causing the particular damage.  If this is the case, the
next option available is to examine the symptoms of crop damage.  Use the diagnostic tool (see link
below) to help to identify the insect pest causing the damage.
Insects can damage crops throughout the growing season but seedlings and podding crops are most
at risk. It is also important to assess any crop damage as soon as it is observed, and determine if
further damage is likely to occur.  Options available for the control of the particular insect pest can
then be explored.

Procedure for monitoring invertebrate pests

There are several methods available for carrying out insect assessments in a crop. These include:

 getting down onto your hands and knees and observing the crop and soil
 Placing traps on the ground for slugs and certain pests like earwings
 using a sweep net
 shaking individual plants onto paper or sheets
 use of an insect trap for monitoring flights of insects at night

The particular method chosen will be influenced by:

 the stage of crop and or insect development

 type of crop being monitored
 the particular pest being monitored

When monitoring pests, it is important to take note of the type of insect, the number of plants
affected, the severity of damage to individual crop plants and area of crop affected by the pest. Also
when treatment has been applied it is important go back and continue monitoring to ensure it has
been successful.

Insect monitoring procedures

Sweep nets

 Sweep nets are suitable for all insect stages except eggs. It is useful for aphids, budworm,
pea weevils and other insects found in the crop canopy when the crop is knee high or taller. The
standard sweep net is 38 cm in diameter, 70 cm deep with a 120 cm long handle.
 Brush the sweep across the top of the crop canopy in a continuous motion in a 2 m arc.
Approximately four sweeps of the net will cover 1 m² of the crop.

Shaking insects off plants

 Place a length of light coloured plastic or equivalent between rows and vigorously shake or
beat the plants over the bag. Collect the insects into a container for identification and counting.
 Alternatively, gently pull up the plants and shake or bang into a plastic bucket or sweep net.

Close examination

 This is necessary when assessing small insects, especially those that live on or near the
ground. It is useful for insects such as red-legged earth mites, webworm, aphids and vegetable
weevils. You may need to crawl around looking at the base of plants and among leaf litter. A warm
sunny afternoon is often the best time. A magnifying glass may assist.
 Some pests are difficult to find, especially those that attack plant roots, so it is important to
check below as well as above ground during your assessment. Some only emerge at night and
require observation then, a pit trap or a cover such as a bag placed on the ground for them to shelter
under when daylight.

Interpreting the results

If insects are identified, determine whether or not the crop is likely to suffer further economic
damage. When deciding whether the pest should be controlled take into consideration factors such
as:

 the stage of crop development

 the stage of insect development
 potential for crop yield/income loss
 other environmental conditions (which are likely to influence pest survival)
 level of predators/parasites present
 cost of control

Insect threshold levels

Check pest numbers with the threshold levels for the crops below:
Canola
Cereals
Pulses

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-70992-0_8