For me bug checking - as silly as it may sound, was always something I wanted to give a go. It is one of those things that is almost like a right of passage to many and I always wants to be a part of it… and now I am.
My family has never grown or had any ownership in cotton properties or productions but my dad is a spray contractor and therefore plays a big part in the development of the crop.
I believe this is where my interest originally stemmed from.
Though few bug checkers actually belong to cotton grower families, the cotton industry is a massive part of our community and district and proves that you don’t necessarily have to be a grower to be heavily involved in the long growing process.
For me being a part of such a huge industry in Australia gives me great pride and a sense of satisfaction.
This year between seasons I also worked at the Goondiwindi Namoi cotton gin where I further participated and learnt about the cotton industry post field.
The role I play in this million-dollar industry is ‘bug checking’.
For those not familiar with this line of work the job title provokes a lot of questions and is a great conversation starter.
Despite the confusing name the job is pretty much exactly what it sounds like it would be.
I bug check for MacIntyre Independent Agronomists where I work for two highly experienced and well regarded agronomists David Kelly and Iain McPherson where I work alongside 3 other keen young colleges Makaela Brown, Keely Morrissy and Grace Raymond.
Our job as a bug checker is to collect data on the bug species, whether they be pests or beneficial, in the growing crop.
The data we collect is then sent to Ian and Dave so that they can keep track of how each particular crop is developing and the spraying needs that may or may not be required.
An average working week for us is six days.
Each day we have a certain run of properties we check, each property is checked twice a week. With two girls to a vehicle we set off upon our day.
As we drive from property to property we navigate our way to and between fields.
In each field we do a certain number of checks, depending on the management unit the field is in.
While the cotton is in the first couple of months of growing visual checks are performed. In these checks we measure out a metre of plants, then in the metre we thoroughly check each plant by turning over the leaves inspecting each side of them for any bugs present.
We then record the number of plants checked in the meter and our findings.
Often more than one check can be done per field. Once the plants become old enough and display a greater number of leaves along with the right height we begin checks known as beats.
These checks are carried out by laying a length of a bit over a meter of yellow tarp between two rows and then using a meter length of pipe to lay down the plants over the tarp and beat them against it for about 6 seconds.
This causes the bugs living within these plants to fall onto the tarp to be more accurately counted and recorded. Other checks are also done throughout the season to monitor growth and give estimates of how much cotton can be expected to be picked at the end of the season.
Although this is one of the few Agricultural jobs primarily done by young women of today it is not at all glamourous.
Most days end covered in mud from wet fields after covering many kilometres around fields and between properties. With the occasional day after rain leading to the embarrassing “we’re bogged” phone call.
Although it may seem like a small and basic job, it is extremely important in ensuring the outcome of the best crop possible for the grower.
For a successful season a number of jobs performed by a large variety of people are essential.
Such as: agronomists- their bug checkers, irrigators, spray contractors, machinery operators and many others.
This is my second season bug checking and I doubt it will be my last. Throughout my experience so far I have learnt endless amount of information which has inspired me to go on and study further into the agricultural world at the University of New England in Armidale in 2018.
My love and fascination for agriculture is what has given me a love and passion for this job.
I look forward to many more seasons ahead while I complete my study.
- This story first appeared on the Goondiwindi Argus.
