Weeds in the spotlight

Weeds are a huge cost to the grazing businesses. They put productivity, the environment, and livelihoods under pressure. More than 50 people attended weeds field days to discuss solutions.

Invasive weeds are a serious problem in North Queensland, threatening the region’s economic and environmental sustainability, and early intervention is key to management.

Six BBB properties have joined forces to form a Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Producer Demonstration Site to trial a cooperative and integrated approach to the management of the highest priority weeds on their grazing properties. 

The LDC project is supporting the group by helping to facilitate activities, and to provide access to equipment and technical expertise.

Two field days were held in March, at Sonoma Station and Gee Dee Road, to update the BBB grazing community about the successes and challenges of the various approaches being trialled.

The main take home message was that graziers who were having significant success in managing their major weeds, was through an integrated approach focusing on:

• biosecurity;
• consistent and vigilant management of weed occurrences; 
• adoption of the latest technologies; and 
• maintenance of vigorous pasture to ensure competition with potential weed species. 

Stan and Judy Fordham, Emohruo Station.

Participants at the field day, held at Sonoma Station.

Host for one of the field days, Shane Watts, of Sonoma Station, spoke about weed control works being carried out, the resources used including chemical, mechanical and biological, and the biosecurity management and monitoring program implemented across the property.

An effective biosecurity plan needs to tackle weeds and pest animals simultaneously. In this region deer and pigs are major weed spreaders, and they roam across property boundaries.  This is a major issue for every grazing enterprise, and very expensive.
— Sonoma Station grazier, Shane Watts

Landholders were particularly interested in the demonstration of various machinery implements including the mulcher head, woody weed sucker puller, platter gun, mister, and Quik spray units. 

A quality line up of speakers ensured enthusiastic discussions throughout the whole day.  

A quality line up of speakers ensured enthusiastic discussions during both days: 

• Shane Campbell, University of Queensland, woody weed specialist;
• Ken Springall, Independent agriculture consultant and woody weed specialist;
• Jim Fletcher, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries;
• Melissa Hayes, Whitsunday Regional Council;
• Mark Perkinson, Bowen Collinsville Landcare Group;
• Owen Howard, Bowen River Cluster Group (demonstration of Epple Skattergun for controlling small infestations of prickly acacia and other weeds);
• Gerard Dogao,  PGG Wrightson Seeds; and
• Rodger Walker, Landholders Driving Change.

Future field days are planned and the BBB community will receive a ‘Save the Date’ notice ahead of each one.

Field day participants discuss weed management approaches on creek and riverbanks.

Grant Davy and Warren Woodhouse.

LDC’s Rodger Walker.

Bristow Hughes, Strathalbyn Station, discusses approaches to tackling woody weeds along waterways.

Wendy Grant, John Grant, Stanley Fordham and Gerard Dogao (Sales Agronomist Central and Northern Queensland PGG Wrightson Seeds).

Bowen Collinsville Landcare Group vice chair Mark Perkinson provides an overview of the equipment the group owns to help manage woody weeds.

Participants at the LDC-MLA Integrated Weeds Management field day held at Sonoma Station.

Shane Watts, Sonoma Station, and host of the LDC-MLA Integrated Weed Management field day talks about the various weed control methods he is trialling, including the splatter gun, pictured.