Big 6

The WeedSmart Big 6 are a set of chemical, mechanical and cultural tactics to help growers control crop weeds.

It’s an integrated weed management program that growers can apply across all cropping systems. A diverse approach that includes several chemical and non-chemical tactics places downward pressure on the weed seed bank and reduces herbicide resistance risk.

This plan is all about the grower calling the shots, not the weeds.

Download the Big 6 flyer.

Rotate crops and pastures

Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner.

Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner.

Increase crop competition

Help your crops win the war against weeds by increasing their competitiveness against them.

Help your crops win the war against weeds by increasing their competitiveness against them.

Optimise spray efficacy

Optimising spray efficacy will help you hit the target weed with your chosen spray product, improving your chance of killing weeds and reducing spray drift.

Optimising spray efficacy will help you hit the target weed with your chosen spray product, improving your chance of killing weeds and reducing spray drift.

Mix and rotate herbicides

Rotating buys you time, mixing buys you shots. Mix and rotate buys you time and shots.

Rotating buys you time, mixing buys you shots. Mix and rotate buys you time and shots.

Stop weed seed set

Annual weeds must set seed if the species is to persist, so stopping weed seed set is a critical strategy to manage herbicide-resistant weeds.

Annual weeds must set seed if the species is to persist, so stopping weed seed set is a critical strategy to manage herbicide-resistant weeds.

Implement harvest weed seed control

Capture weed seed survivors at harvest using weed seed impact mills, chaff lining, chaff tramlining, chaff carts, or narrow windrow burning.

Capture weed seed survivors at harvest using weed seed impact mills, chaff lining, chaff tramlining, chaff carts, or narrow windrow burning.

Key resources and factsheets

We have a lot of information on our website – below are some easy-to-find key resources,  providing access to important information on herbicide resistance testing, fact sheets and other guides which will help you make informed choices about controlling weeds on your farm.

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Article
News

Plan your attack on the weed seed bank

Here we summarise the key components of the WeedSmart Big 6 strategies and the principles that underpin them. Read More...
Article
Ask an Expert

How does a local weather data network help growers make spray decisions?

New weather station networks provide growers with real-time, local inversion data to help them avoid spray drift conditions. Read More...
Article
News

Testing for herbicide susceptibility and resistance

Testing weeds for herbicide susceptibility and resistance can save growers thousands of dollars, making the investment of a few hundred in testing very worthwhile. Read More...
Article
Ask an Expert

Do coarse nozzles compromise summer spray efficacy?

Select nozzles that deliver the largest spray quality to reduce spray drift and implement measures that don't compromise summer weed control. Read More...
Article
News

Velocity resistance flags the value of herbicide resistance testing pre-harvest

High-level resistance to Velocity is confirmed in wild radish. Test survivor weeds this season. Read More...
Article
News

Testing informs herbicide choice

Herbicide resistance resistance testing proved useful even on a property where there had been limited use of herbicides. Read More...

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