Herbicide resistance in summer weeds becomes reality
For an increasing number of farmers in New South Wales herbicide resistance in summer grasses is no longer a threat but a reality.
Resistance to glyphosate, the world’s most useful herbicide, has been confirmed in three species of summer grasses—barnyard grass, liverseed grass, and most recently sowthistle.
Summer weeds are notoriously difficult to control due to the hot, dry summer weather patterns limiting the efficacy of spray operations and the ability of these weeds to rapidly set seed. Herbicide resistance makes this difficult task even harder.
This week there will be a gathering of minds as a group of agronomists, researchers and consultants meet with experienced farmers from the local area and from Western Australia, where growers have a longer history with finding innovative ways to live with and sometimes beat herbicide resistant weeds.
A series of workshops are being held across the grain growing regions of NSW this week:
- 10 March, RSL Club, Moree
- 11 March, 2828 Hall, Gulargambone
- 12 March, Bowling Club, Dubbo
- 13 March, Forbes Services Memorial Club, Forbes
- 14 March, Wine & Food Training Centre, Charles Sturt University Campus, Wagga Wagga
Discussion leaders at the workshops include Peter Newman, Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, John Cameron, ICAN Rural and Tony Cook, NSW DPI. Several other researchers and prominent local growers will also be presenting at one or more of the workshops.
The growers, Tom Murphy, Maurie Street and Murray Scholz, have personal experience managing these difficult weeds and have each trialled several strategies as they look for the most effective mix of tactics to meet the challenge that is herbicide resistance.
The purpose of the workshops is for researchers, agronomists and growers to discuss management options that can be implemented to reduce the spread of herbicide resistant weeds and to manage existing resistant populations.
Rural reporters are invited to contact Tony Cook, NSW DPI (details below), to arrange interviews with the presenters during this week-long workshop series.
For more info on the workshops, click here.
For media enquiries contact:
Tony Cook
NSW Department of Primary Industries
(02) 6763 1250
0447 651 607
tony.cook@dpi.nsw.gov.au