Dustin Severtson

Dustin Severtson
Development Officer
Dustin Severtson [1]

My role in the department

My role is in research, extension and training within the field of agricultural entomology for broad-scale grain and pasture production. The PestFax service is providing industry with timely information regarding pest and disease threats and management through the newsletter and integrated pest management training courses. We are conducting surveillance for key pests including native budworm, fall armyworm, and diamondback moth using traditional and automated traps. We are also currently studying the spatial distribution of field crop pests and optimising crop scouting using smartphone application such as 'MyPestGuide CropScout' and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for improved pest and plant stress detection.

Contact information

dustin.severtson@dpird.wa.gov.au [2]
+61 (0)8 9690 2160
+61 (0)427 196 656

My background

I have experience in research, extension and training within the field of agricultural entomology for grain and pasture production. Prior experience includes wheat and sheep farming in the north-east agricultural region of WA.

Projects

  • PestFax newsletter, insect identification and training service.
  • iMapPESTS: Sentinel Surveillance for Agriculture is a research project aimed at boosting on-farm pest management through rapid and accurate monitoring and reporting of airborne pests and diseases that affect our crops.
  • Survey of the summer/autumn brassica refuges for diamondback moth in the Western Region to predict early season risk of infestation.
  • Optimised temporal and spatial accuracy of crop scouting for pests using smartphone application and UAV-based crop assessment of plant stress.

Key Expertise

Grains research and industry development, integrated pest management, pest control, insecticide efficacy, agricultural entomology, insect identification training

Qualifications

  • BSc in Environmental Biology with Honours, Curtin University of Technology
  • PhD, University of Western Australia

Links
[1] https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/styles/gw_large/public/Severtson_profile.jpg?itok=2_wefF_6
[2] https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/dustin-severtson

Source URL: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/dustin-severtson
This print version was generated at 9:53am on the 6th of July, 2022.
The original document was last revised at Wed, 21/07/2021 - 7:59am

Important disclaimer

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.