3D weed management

Silverleaf Nightshade Case Studies Four Case Studies of Farmers Managing Silverleaf Nightshade in Grazing Systems

HELPING PRODUCERS TO MANAGE WEEDS IN GRAZING SYSTEMS Introduction

Contents: Page

Case Study 1 - Andrew King, “Deepwater”, , 3 - 5

Case Study 2 - The Knowles family, “Argyle”, Wellington, New South Wales 6 - 8

Case Study 3 - Alan and Gwenda Malcolm, Hopetoun, Victoria 9 - 11

Case Study 4 - Joe and Mick Hopwood, “Woodlands”, Boree Creek, New South Wales 12 - 14

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum Heavy infestations can halve the normal stocking ) is a deep rooted, rate and reduce animal performance. The hard elaeagnifolium silverleaf nightshade seeds can be spread by summer growing, perennial animals, birds, vehicles or water and can persist weed. It competes directly with over several seasons. Silverleaf nightshade can spring, summer and autumn also grow from root fragments, so is readily growing pastures and crops for spread by cultivation. moisture, sunlight and nutrients. It can be toxic to livestock but is unpalatable and only grazed during severe feed shortages. Case Study 1 - Narrandera, New South Wales

Case Study 1 – Deepwater Andrew King, “Deepwater”, Narrandera, New South Wales

Since 1998 Andrew King has operated Deepwater, an area of approximately 3,000 ha located in the region of New South Wales, between and Narrandera.

The production system Silverleaf nightshade The main impacts of silverleaf nightshade are the risk of contamination Deepwater is part of a larger operation Silverleaf nightshade has been present of lucerne seed and hay, restricted stock adjoining the with in the Riverina region for some time. movement and potential impact on land both surface and groundwater irrigation It is more prevalent in the irrigation prices. licences. Access to irrigation allows the areas to the west and some of the seed largely arable Deepwater to support a was brought to Deepwater via fodder number of diverse enterprises. purchased from the Griffith area prior to The incentive to act 1998. Andrew aims to produce premium Centre pivots irrigate 480 ha from products using industry best practice groundwater sources, and 120 ha are When Deepwater was purchased in to maximise returns per hectare across flood irrigated from the river. Irrigated 1998, Andrew was aware that the weed the property. This includes a strong crops include cereals, pulses and had been on the farm for around consideration of the property’s long- lucerne for seed and fodder production. 35 years. term productivity, reflected in the Dryland crops are also produced. A flock significant investment made in on-farm of 25,000 to 30,000 Hazeldean Merinos Even though Andrew did not have direct environmental activities. produces 19 micron wool. experience in managing the weed, he was confident that silverleaf nightshade Management of silverleaf nightshade is A number of tree lanes have been could be controlled and, at the time of a priority for the operation. planted and areas of remnant native purchase, the goal was to eradicate it. vegetation have been fenced off. Silverleaf nightshade has the potential Riparian works are also carried out Despite the persistence of silverleaf to disrupt operations at Deepwater by with support from the Murrumbidgee nightshade, the management contaminating products, particularly Catchment Management Authority. actions implemented by Andrew are lucerne seed and hay. The lucerne effective. Combined with a successful seed is produced under contract and it At this stage, Deepwater is still run as a quarantine strategy, management has is critical that it contains no silverleaf totally separate farm system. significantly reduced the prevalence nightshade seed, which is similar in size of silverleaf nightshade at Deepwater. to lucerne seed. Ongoing control is critical to maximise the flexibility and profitability of the operation.

3 Case Study 1 - Narrandera, New South Wales

Herbicides When he first started trying to control silverleaf nightshade at Deepwater, Andrew applied 2,4-D Amine and 2L of oil during summer.

After a trial with six different treatments, adjusting rates and chemicals, they now use 1,000 mL/ha fluroxypyr with 1% uptake in crop. Fluroxypyr is used on lucerne to stop silverleaf nightshade establishing. Initially a wick wiper and glyphosate were also used but the bike couldn’t easily handle the country and The high level of infestation of silverleaf Andrew also had to consider weed the coverage was too slow. Andrew now nightshade was depleting the soil control in the fenced-off remnant uses a boom spray. moisture available to the cropping phase vegetation and riparian areas. of the rotations on Deepwater. Spot spraying with glyphosate is Though the process of control has taken effective against isolated plants and If uncontrolled, the weed infestation longer than expected, the goal remains in fenced off tree areas to stop seed would reduce the carrying capacity of the same – containment, then total set. Birds also transfer the seed so it is the property. eradication of silverleaf nightshade at important to spray under trees. Deepwater. Andrew still aims to completely eradicate silverleaf nightshade to Grazing management maximise farm production. He realises Diversity in the Ensuring livestock do not spread that control will allow flexibility on-farm, silverleaf nightshade is important to and reduce costs in the long run. He is approach ensure control of the weed. on track to achieve this goal. Cropping and pasture management are used with a herbicide program Andrew has seen silverleaf nightshade to manage and contain silverleaf out-compete other pasture species on Deliberation nightshade on the property. the property. On the upper red loam country, a mix of arrowleaf clover, Andrew has trialled a number of There are a number of components to sub clover and phalaris is grazed for different techniques and strategies for five years, after three to four years management and containment over the the silverleaf nightshade control strategy at Deepwater. cropping. This pasture system competes past eight years. effectively against annual weeds like Pastures and cropping Bathurst burr on this soil type, but not Information on control options was against silverleaf nightshade without initially obtained from the NSW Phalaris pastures are planted on the other interventions. Department of Primary Industries at river country. Lucerne-based pastures Parkes, NSW, and from trials with local are established after a cropping phase Where silverleaf nightshade is present, chemical suppliers. and Andrew leaves the lucerne in for up its density must be reduced through to five years. the cropping phase, and pasture sowing Andrew has learned from the rates increased to ensure the pasture experiences of farmers and agronomists The cropping phase allows a dedicated can compete. in the irrigation areas. He found that a herbicide spraying program to control lot of their solutions were too expensive weeds, but herbicide is applied to crops Pastures are sometimes strip grazed for larger broadacre areas. and lucerne stands. to manage weeds. In spring however, sheep are split into mobs of Andrew realised that fencelines and tree The cropping and pasture mix provides 2,000-3,000 head, so it is not possible to belts can be a source of re-infestation. vigorous competition against silverleaf use grazing pressure to control silverleaf He has taken care to locate tree belts nightshade and other weeds, in nightshade. away from boundaries in order to conjunction with the spraying program. minimise a potential source of silverleaf nightshade incursion for neighbouring farms. This also allows thorough and effective management on a broadacre scale.

4 Case Study 1 - Narrandera, New South Wales

Diligence Lucerne is grown for seed on four irrigated paddocks. The costs of doing Summary Andrew plans to continue using nothing and allowing the weed to spread During the last eight years, Andrew herbicides and crop/pasture rotations would have an impact on this enterprise. has successfully contained silverleaf as part of the ongoing management of The reduction in income from lucerne nightshade at Deepwater and greatly silverleaf nightshade. seed, and the discount on hay sales, reduced its density by: would decrease revenue by around ✔ The timing of herbicide applications is $2,500/ha on the irrigated country. ✔Having an attitude of zero tolerance important for optimum plant uptake. towards the weed. During January, spraying is often done in It is estimated the value of land would ✔✔Using herbicide during summer to the evenings. It is difficult to spot spray be reduced by 25% or approximately stop silverleaf nightshade from setting during summer as temperatures can $250-300/ha in the local area if a seed. reach over 40°C and handling chemicals property had a heavy infestation of becomes more hazardous. silverleaf nightshade. ✔✔Trialling different strategies. ✔✔Stopping any spread of seed through Andrew has found that birds are Lucerne densities in some areas fell careful stock management. one of the biggest carriers of seeds from 20 plants/m2 to 0.5 plants/m2. so everyone on the property has to However, control has successfully The benefits of managing this weed be vigilant. All new outbreaks are eliminated contamination in the pivot greatly outweigh the control costs. addressed by spot spraying in both areas. crops and along fence lines. The investment in the control strategy is Annual costs and benefits of around $25/ha treated, with about The herbicide spraying program will 1,000 ha typically treated each year. continue to be refined over time. weed management Costs Without control, the annual revenue A monitoring program that includes Spraying costs (chemicals) $25,000 from lucerne seed production and fodder taking photos of critical areas from year sales may be reduced by around to year is in place. Benefits $2,500/ha and carrying capacity would Avoided loss of income from also be reduced. Benefits and costs seed and hay production $1,500,000 By controlling silverleaf nightshade, Avoided loss in land value $750,000 Containing the weed has protected the Andrew is protecting access to diverse land value, which may be reduced by Annual net benefit $2,225,000 income sources. Control of the weed 25% if infested with silverleaf nightshade. allows lucerne seed production and fodder sales to continue. Keys to success Factors critical to success with silverleaf The farm’s carrying capacity has been nightshade are persevering with Top tips ✔ protected and silverleaf nightshade is control program; the timing of sprays; having less impact on the level of soil a willingness to trial different control Andrew’s advice for managing silverleaf moisture available to crops. methods; and monitoring and planning nightshade is to: to ensure methods succeed over time. ✔✔Be able to recognise and identify Other positives stemming from the control and containment program Some infested areas are difficult to silverleaf nightshade. at Deepwater include a continued access. Plan how to easily access tree ✔✔Plan and monitor over time. viable mixed farm enterprise options, belts, and place tree belts away from ✔✔Be vigilant with managing the weed elimination of potential contamination boundaries, to reduce reinfestation by year to year. sources in critical production areas, silverleaf nightshade. reduced control costs over time, and ✔✔Manage stock to stop spread and proof that containment is possible over Andrew stresses the importance of establish quarantine areas. a long period. vigilance. Silverleaf nightshade needs to ✔✔Try not to let one plant get away. be controlled within five years or “it will However, weed control has increased be back to where it started”. crop production expenses by around $25/ha. Given the typical area sprayed is about 1,000 ha, this additional cost is significant at $25,000 per year. The summer spraying operation typically takes around two weeks.

5 Case Study 2 - Wellington, New South Wales

Case Study 2 - Argyle The Knowles family, “Argyle”, Wellington, New South Wales

Tom Knowles and his son Nick operate a 607 ha Merino wool and cropping enterprise at Wellington, in central New South Wales. Argyle was purchased in the 1960s but the Knowles family have been in the area for a long time and Nick is the fifth generation.

The production system Silverleaf nightshade pasture production. They had seen crop yields going backwards as silverleaf The Knowles Family run 1,200 self- In the 1960s, Tom bought a neighbouring nightshade extracted soil moisture. They replacing Merino ewes for wool block that had a high infestation of also want to prevent the infested area production. Although they are now silverleaf nightshade on a 40 ha area. from enlarging. moving towards prime lamb production, with the introduction of White Suffolk Silverleaf nightshade has now spread Previously, when they had grown rams to their flock. Argyle is also used across 60 ha. Of this, 40 ha has a crops for seed production, avoiding to finish about 40-50 weaner cattle that moderate infestation contamination of the seed crop was they breed on another farm at Binnaway. (1-25% groundcover) while the important. This experience reinforced In addition, 30 replacement heifers are remaining 20 ha has a low level that weeds had to be controlled and this run on Argyle. infestation. Although the area of had to be done early. infestation has increased, the plant The whole farm is arable and about density has been reduced. 160 ha are normally sown to canola, Tom and Nick’s goal is to control and contain the silverleaf nightshade oats or wheat each year, rotated around Silverleaf nightshade is found on both infestation at Argyle. While eradication the farm. The rotation typically involves neighbouring farms and the travelling may not be possible at the moment, a three to four year cropping phase stock route bordering the property. followed by a four to five year pasture they continue to search for a breakthrough. phase. The crop cycle has been reduced The incentive to act to two years during extended drought Tom and Nick aim to improve the farm’s periods. Paddocks are rotated back to productivity and carrying capacity, a cropping cycle when pasture vigour Deliberation without degrading the farm. begins to decline and weeds begin to be When Tom found silverleaf nightshade a problem. They like to aim high with everything on the property, it was a relatively that they do at Argyle, and paying unknown weed. He didn’t know what Stock are grazed across the whole farm, attention to weed management is a part it was but felt sure that it was a weed. in line with the crop/pasture rotation. of this. He has been seeking information and Stock numbers have been kept constant managing it since. during drought by supplementary They regard management of silverleaf feeding sheep and placing cattle on nightshade as important to maintain agistment. and improve carrying capacity and

6 Case Study 2 - Wellington, New South Wales

Tom gathered information from his local They have observed that competition Herbicides agronomist within the NSW Department from introduced pasture seems to Glyphosate is cheap, easy to use, of Primary Industries (DPI). There inhibit silverleaf nightshade growth. The controls other weeds on the property, was little information available about final crop is undersown with a mix of and seems to kill silverleaf nightshade, silverleaf nightshade but Tom found lucerne, clover, cocksfoot and fescue. stopping it from setting seed. the DPI agronomist very helpful and After about 4-5 years of pasture, weeds together they conducted a number of such as thistles and barley grass usually Various other herbicides have previously trials at Argyle. start to compete with the pasture. The been trialled, including picloram, Knowles then resume the cropping fluroxypyr and 2,4-D amine. After trying These trials showed that despite phase. differing rates of glyphosate (1-6 L/ha), the large number of control options the Knowles family found that available, only a few had any impact on Grazing management 1 or 2L/ha worked the best. They tried silverleaf nightshade. Sheep are rotated around paddocks with in-crop applications of 2,4-D amine but it established pastures and stubble, to was too early in the season for effective They have since learnt that nodes on the give the recently sown pastures time to control. deep root system prevent herbicides establish and grow. from completely killing the plant roots, Weeds of concern, including silverleaf and that it can regrow even when The rotation is flexible, depending on nightshade, are spot sprayed with buried at depth. Tom said that silverleaf feed availability, but is usually around six glyphosate in January and February to nightshade plants have even emerged to eight weeks. stop seed set. It has not been effective from under a pile of chicken manure two to spot spray larger patches of silverleaf metres high. They prevent livestock moving from nightshade so they rely on competitive silverleaf nightshade paddocks to clean pastures to reduce the size of these Tom and Nick feel that until there is country by trying to operate two distinct patches. some type of eradication tool developed, grazing systems - one for clean country then their only option is to contain and and one for infested country. manage silverleaf nightshade.

Diversity in the approach Over the years, Tom has tried a number of control strategies, including mechanical measures like chisel ploughing and deep ripping, which was costly in fuel and only worsened the infestation of silverleaf nightshade.

The current strategy for silverleaf nightshade control at Argyle has a number of components.

Pastures and cropping The Knowles family usually grow three to four years of winter crops in the cropping phase, using herbicides in the summer fallow. They have found that 1L of glyphosate and 1L of 2,4-D applied to stubble during January prevents silverleaf nightshade from setting seed and reduces its growth in the subsequent crop by up to 70%.

The chemical application rate is increased for some patches of stubble where there are dense infestations of silverleaf nightshade.

7 Case Study 2 - Wellington, New South Wales

Summary Diligence The costs of managing silverleaf nightshade are relatively small as they The Knowles family has been managing Monitoring is an important part of are combined with the rest of the farm silverleaf nightshade for over 30 years by: managing weeds, and Tom and Nick weed management practices. The costs ✔✔Managing a cycle of winter crop regularly find new silverleaf nightshade include a small amount of herbicide and plants. Seed transported in the wool rotations with herbicide control. labour costs. of the sheep and on vehicles is ✔ ✔Planting and managing competitive deemed the most likely sources of new Annual costs and benefits of pastures. infestations. weed management ✔✔Spot spraying to control weeds. Monitoring for silverleaf nightshade and Costs ✔✔Trialling different approaches to control other weeds continues throughout the Spot spraying (chemicals, labour) $3,500 silverleaf nightshade with the NSW DPI. year. Hot spots for silverleaf nightshade ✔✔Managing stock to prevent movement include the sheep yards and sheep Benefits from infested to clean country. camps. Avoided loss of carrying capacity $12,500 By fitting silverleaf nightshade To prevent the incursion and spread of Avoided loss of crop yields $11,000 management within a cropping cycle, the weeds, Tom and Nick spray herbicides to Annual net benefit $20,000 direct costs are kept to a minimum – about control weeds on the adjoining travelling $3,500 each year in herbicides and labour. stock route. They avoid buying in hay unless they know where it comes from; Keys to success don’t cut hay on silverleaf nightshade Preventing the wider spread of silverleaf Tom and Nick feel that early infested paddocks; and only buy in rams nightshade has avoided a loss in carrying identification of silverleaf nightshade and bulls, to reduce the risk of bringing capacity and crop yields - a benefit worth is critical along with an understanding in weeds with purchased livestock. around $23,500 each year. of the way the plant grows. Seeking information and trying different Benefits and costs approaches has helped them to better The Knowles family have been understand the weed, develop an Top tips ✔ managing silverleaf nightshade for appropriate control strategy, and agree over 30 years. Whilst they still have a on an achievable level of control. For other farmers with a similar silverleaf moderate-to-low level of infestation on nightshade problem, Tom and Nick suggest: 40 ha, they have been able to contain They also found accepting that ✔✔Admitting that you have silverleaf and reduce the level of infestation eradication was not possible was important. nightshade and doing something about it. across the property.

✔✔Spot spraying whenever you see it to The Knowles family has benefited from stop seeding, particularly in January. a 20% increase in carrying capacity and ✔✔Applying herbicide to crop stubbles - an crop yields across the whole farm over effective and easy way to control it. time. ✔✔Knocking it out: it may grow back bigger Tom and Nick both believe that they but there will be fewer plants – and the have avoided a potential loss of up to fewer plants you have to control, the better. 20% in land value because they have ✔✔Building silverleaf nightshade control been able to control the level and area covered by the infestations. into whole farm weed management plan. When the adjacent block was first purchased, the high infestations of silverleaf nightshade reduced carrying capacity by 30 to 40% and crop production by 30%. At the current reduced level of infestation, the Knowles family estimates only a 10-15% loss in crop production on that area.

8 Case Study 3 - Southern Mallee, Victoria

Case Study 3 - Hopetoun Alan and Gwenda Malcolm, Hopetoun, Southern Mallee, Victoria

Alan and Gwenda Malcolm own 1,270 ha near Hopetoun in the Southern Mallee region of Victoria. The property has been in the family since 1925.

The production system Alan found silverleaf nightshade on his tools have developed around improving property in the mid-1950s but did not productivity, and keeping abreast of Alan currently grazes a third of the realise its importance as a weed until changing market requirements and property with 600 breeding ewes, which 1960. innovation within the agricultural are used for his prime lamb enterprise. industry. The Malcolm’s property is one of four in Due to dry conditions in recent years, the 2,400 ha Southern Mallee Silverleaf Silverleaf nightshade has reduced Alan has tended to finish between Nightshade Containment Program. the sheep carrying capacity on the 300 and 400 lambs in an on-farm This program was set up in 1973, in Malcolms’ property. The weed was feedlot. The remainder of the property cooperation with the then Victorian out-competing pastures and reducing is used in a two-year rotational cropping Lands Department. It aimed to contain the amount of feed available for stock. cycle of barley, wheat, peas and triticale. the weed to the initial affected farms Silverleaf nightshade was also depleting and prevent it from spreading any the soil moisture available to the Most grain harvested is sold and a further. In 1982, the Victorian Lands cropping phase of Alan’s rotations. relatively small proportion is retained Department estimated that silverleaf each year as supplementary feed. At nightshade would have spread across Alan wanted to manage silverleaf the end of the cropping cycle, lucerne 60,000 ha of the Mallee region if the nightshade before it became an even and medic are under sown to provide containment program hadn’t been in bigger problem and threatened the pasture for the prime lamb enterprise place. viability of the farm. and to replenish the soil. Alan currently considers that 50% of his Rotational grazing keeps the pastures property is highly infested by silverleaf competitive. Sheep are supplementary Deliberation nightshade, with 25% having moderate fed during dry conditions to reduce the infestation and the remaining 25% Alan and the other farmers within impact on pastures. with low level infestation. Alan believes the containment program chose their that the property’s weed situation management approach out of their Silverleaf nightshade would have worsened without their concern and desperation to control the Silverleaf nightshade, or white horse management strategy. weed. nettle as it was previously known, was first found in the Southern Mallee in The incentive to act Alan helped to lobby the Victorian 1919. It is thought to have come into Government in the early 1970s to gain The goal of the Malcolms’ business the area via chaff purchased for horses financial support for the containment is to look to the future to develop a during a drought. program. The farmers discussed the sustainable enterprise that provides a silverleaf nightshade problem and living for their family. Their management

9 Case Study 3 - Southern Mallee, Victoria

Herbicides Small, isolated infestations are spot sprayed with picloram to stop seed set.

Broadacre herbicide application is used on both crops and pastures. Glyphosate is applied to stubble in summer to stop seed set and fluroxypyr is used on lucerne to prevent the establishment of silverleaf nightshade.

Grazing management Planned grazing management helps lucerne to compete against silverleaf nightshade during establishment. Alan rotationally grazes his stock, using pasture height as a trigger for stock movements. He tries to run 2.5 dry sheep equivalent (DSE) to each possible control options with the Alan has also tried deep ripping the salt- non-cropped hectare on his farm. Victorian Government, and were affected area. Due to the lack of rainfall successful in gaining funding to support in recent years, the salinity hasn’t been Over recent years, Alan has been the proposed silverleaf nightshade such a concern. Alan feels that the area supplementary feeding his stock due to containment program. will need to be monitored when rainfall the dry seasonal conditions. returns to normal. Within the Southern Mallee SMCP, Alan Quarantine has accepted that his land is a source of reinfestation. He considers preventing Diversity in the Alan and the other members of the the weed from seeding and reducing containment program restrict vehicle its spread to be the most realistic approach and stock access to their farms. management options. Cropping and pasture management, together with herbicides, are used As silverleaf nightshade had less impact to manage and contain silverleaf Diligence on the cropping phase, it was thought nightshade in the Southern Mallee. The Malcolm’s plan to continue to use that it would be easier to control using broadacre herbicides, spot spraying, and the cropping phase of the rotation. Pastures and cropping cropping and pasture rotations as part of their ongoing management. Information from trials conducted on Minimum tillage is used in the cropping farms in the SMCP by Vera Molner, phase to reduce the likelihood of Alan regularly looks for new outbreaks a Research Scientist at the Lands spreading the weed by cultivation. Crop of silverleaf nightshade and all new Department, proved very useful for the rotations of barley, wheat, peas and outbreaks are treated by spot spraying. Malcolms’ weed control approach. Alan triticale allow herbicide to be applied also found the officers that worked for to the weed in stubble. This keeps A lot of time and money has already the Lands Department to be particularly herbicide costs down, compared to been spent on containing silverleaf helpful and supportive. using selective herbicides in the growing crop. nightshade in this area. The farmers involved are committed to continuing When planning the management of this good work and to not let results of silverleaf nightshade, Alan had to take Pasture such as lucerne provides their efforts come undone. into consideration any environmental effective competition against silverleaf issues that might affect the strategy. nightshade, but the Malcolms have Alan has a small area of salinity at the found that this competition declines bottom of the property. He has been after about five years. Alan tries to managing this block by planting saltbush maintain the pasture for three to seven on the affected area and trying to grow years, depending on the seasons, before lucerne in the surrounding area to lower he rotates it back to a crop. He has the watertable. added medic and vetch to his pasture mix to try and increase competition. The vetch has been added to compensate for reduced medic establishment.

10 Case Study 3 - Southern Mallee, Victoria

Benefits and costs The containment program attracted government support, and increased Summary By controlling silverleaf nightshade, Alan public awareness of silverleaf nighshade Alan and Gwenda Malcolm have has been able to reduce the potential in the Southern Mallee and across effectively managed silverleaf impact of the weed on the farm’s Victoria. The local community now nightshade on their Southern Mallee carrying capacity. If silverleaf nightshade realises the benefits of containing property by: was not controlled, carrying capacity the weed to a few properties and may have halved. Using the Malcolm’s ✔ understands the impact silverleaf ✔Being involved in a regional current gross margin of around nightshade has had on affected farmers. containment program, developed $50/DSE, this would equate to a in cooperation with the Victorian $26,000 loss each year across the total area grazed. The containment program proved Government and neighbours. containment is possible and that mixed ✔✔Using herbicide during summer to farms with silverleaf nightshade can Alan has also reduced the potential stop silverleaf nightshade from setting remain viable. But it has been hard impact on his cropping enterprise. He work, and has impacted on the farm seed. estimates that if uncontrolled, silverleaf businesses involved through the: ✔ nightshade would have reduced crop ✔Using a cropping and pasture yields by 20%. Applying a gross margin ➜➜Direct costs of the strategy. management cycle to compete against silverleaf nightshade. of approximately $140/ha, this translates ➜➜Inconvenience of the timing of to an annual impact of $37,500. spraying, on top of normal farm The Malcolms successfully contained The Malcolms’ cost of production activities. silverleaf nightshade to their property, has increased due to the labour and ➜➜Time taken for the control program. through their involvement in the Southern Mallee Silverleaf Nightshade chemical costs of controlling silverleaf ➜➜Reduced land values, through public nightshade. The direct costs associated Containment Program. awareness of the problems associated with silverleaf nightshade management are estimated at $13,500 per annum. with silverleaf nightshade. Taking into account the control costs of $13,500 each year and the benefits Taking costs into account, the net Alan and the other members of the of retained carrying capacity and crop benefit of Alan’s silverleaf nightshade containment program have developed yield, the net benefit of controlling management strategy is estimated to be a ‘holding pattern’ for silverleaf silverleaf nightshade is around $50,000 approximately $50,000 per annum. nightshade, in the hope that an each year. eradication method will be developed in the future. Annual costs and benefits of weed management Keys to success Top tips ✔ Costs Critical factors for the successful control Alan’s advice for managing silverleaf of silverleaf nightshade were: Spot spraying nightshade is: (50 hrs @ $25/hr) $1,250 Boom spraying ➜➜The application of herbicide in ✔✔Prevent seed set by applying (60 hrs @ $80/hr) $4,800 summer to stop seed set. herbicide during summer. Chemicals $7,500 ➜➜Cropping rotations to reduce the ✔✔Plan grazing management to ensure herbicide costs. that pastures remain competitive against Benefits silverleaf nightshade. Avoided 50% loss of ➜➜Competition from lucerne through carrying capacity $26,000 grazing management. ✔✔Be able to recognise and identify Avoided 20% loss of ➜➜Community awareness of the silverleaf nightshade and seek advice on crop yields $37,500 significance of the weed. how to control the weed. Annual net benefit $49,950 ➜➜Long-term perseverance with the ✔✔Be prepared to work outside the control program. square, to work with neighbours and/or Alan’s involvement in the SMCP helped Landcare groups. ➜➜Cooperation between associated him contain silverleaf nightshade on his property and reduce the potential impact parties including farmers and state on neighbouring farms. The net benefit government agencies, in particular the of this control program to the region is Lands Department. therefore much greater.

11 Case Study 4 - Boree Creek, New South Wales

Case Study 4 - Woodlands Joe and Mick Hopwood, “Woodlands”, Boree Creek, New South Wales

The Hopwood family operates a 1,500 ha mixed farming enterprise at Boree Creek in southern New South Wales. Woodlands is managed by brothers Joe and Michael, with their parents Mick and Jennifer, and their partners Kerry and Elizabeth.

The production system Silverleaf nightshade Deliberation The farm has 1,350 ha of arable land, Silverleaf nightshade has been on the They aim to keep the farm as weedfree of which 900 ha is typically cropped farm since the 1970s. Although little was as possible, and are conscious of not each year to wheat, barley, canola and known at the time about the weed or bringing new weeds onto the farm. occasionally, field peas. the problem it might be, the Hopwood family regarded it as a weed from this The Hopwoods are committed to regular The Hopwoods join 1,600 ewes each early stage and have been managing it monitoring and control of silverleaf year. They are rebuilding their sheep ever since. nightshade. This is largely driven by numbers by introducing Dorpers into wanting to avoid a potential problem their Merino flock for lamb production. Silverleaf nightshade grows in scattered down the track and to keep the farm Sheep graze 300 ha of spring sown 2 patches of up to 100 m , across 400 ha clean. It is also because, having invested lucerne, 50 ha of winter wheat and crop of the farm. It is found mainly on the in managing silverleaf nightshade for stubbles, and are supplemented with eastern boundary of the property. 40 years and having kept it in check, grain. Native pastures in the timbered they don’t want to see their good work country provide limited additional Silverleaf nightshade grows largely go to waste. grazing. uncontrolled on a neighbouring property that adjoins the eastern boundary and With dense infestations of silverleaf The Hopwood family have been at is also found in the neighbouring state nightshade on neighbouring properties Woodlands for over 100 years. They have forest, providing a regular source of and in the adjoining forest, eradication expanded the property by purchasing reinfestation. is not possible. They aim to prevent the two neighbouring farms, which are now weed from becoming firmly established managed as one business. The incentive to act on their property and to minimise its Profitability is the Hopwood’s main goal. spread and impact. They aim to generate a 10% return on capital. Farm decisions are also driven When Mick first found silverleaf by the sustainability of the enterprises, nightshade, he asked the NSW such as growing legumes for nitrogen Department of Primary Industries fixation, addressing canola yield decline (DPI) for information. Since then, the and reacting to commodity price Hopwoods have regularly sought changes. information from the DPI, field days, neighbours and agronomists, but they largely rely on their past experience with the weed on Woodlands.

12 Case Study 4 - Boree Creek, New South Wales

Diversity in the approach Control measures target the plant in summer, when it is actively growing, so they can prevent seed set and kill new and existing plants.

Herbicides Spot spraying with glyphosate is the main control measure used. Each plant is sprayed once or twice per season. The Hopwoods use glyphosate because it’s cheaper (in comparison to other chemical options), easy to apply, and they always have some in the shed.

They have tried various other herbicides including picloram, fluroxypyr and 2,4-D. They found that 2,4-D rapidly knocks silverleaf nightshade but doesn’t always Competition from lucerne pastures Diligence kill it. Glyphosate appears to kill the seems to inhibit the growth of silverleaf plant, but it often re-shoots from the nightshade. However, the weed returns Routine monitoring to find and control same spot, either from roots or seeds. rapidly after the five-year lucerne phase. outbreaks of silverleaf nightshade is The Hopwoods suspect this may be the key to the Hopwoods’ management They also use glyphosate on stubble to partly because it is difficult to identify strategy. This is done throughout its keep silverleaf nightshade under control. the weed in lucerne pastures, meaning summer growing period, so plants can it may escape control more easily. be found and controlled before they set Pastures and cropping seed. The Hopwoods are unsure if the Grazing management Mick does early morning rounds during cropping cycle makes any difference to Sheep grazing is managed to ensure summer to check last season’s silverleaf silverleaf nightshade infestations, so that pastures remain competitive nightshade infestations and see if their crop choice is not influenced by the throughout the year. During drier periods plants have regrown. He also looks presence of the weed. and winter months, the ewes are broadly across the farm because they’ve supplementary fed with grain to take the observed that, although silverleaf Cultivation is avoided. Minimum tillage pressure off struggling pastures. Ewes nightshade is most commonly detected helps reduce the risk of spreading are managed in smaller mobs around in areas of previous infestation, new silverleaf nightshade. lambing time. patches can appear anywhere on the farm.

Benefits and costs Silverleaf nightshade is dense on neighbouring lands so Joe and Mick expect that controlling the weed will require an ongoing effort from them. They feel they are managing to “keep on top” of silverleaf nightshade on Woodlands. While it does return after treatment, it has not spread across their other farms.

13 Case Study 4 - Boree Creek, New South Wales

Summary They both believe that personal Annual costs and benefits of satisfaction is the main benefit from weed management The Hopwood family have been managing managing silverleaf nightshade. The silverleaf nightshade for over 40 years. farm looks better with weeds under Costs With reinfestation sources on neighbouring control, which makes them feel better Spot spraying $1,200 lands, complete eradication is not feasible. about the long-term management and Despite this, they have successfully kept control of silverleaf nightshade. Benefits silverleaf nightshade under control by: Avoided 40% loss of ✔✔Regular monitoring to find new Their control costs are relatively small. pasture production and outbreaks and regrowth. They use around 20 L of glyphosate per 20% loss of crop yields year plus fuel, and Mick estimates that (gross margin) $9,500 ✔✔Spot spraying in summer to kill. he would spend about 30 hours per Annual net benefit > $8,300 individual plants and prevent seed set. year monitoring and controlling silverleaf ✔✔Growing competitive lucerne pastures. nightshade - an hour or two, three mornings a week during summer. This Keys to success ✔✔Avoiding cultivation. equates to around $1,200/year. Joe and Mick feel that it is critical to be vigilant so that silverleaf nightshade For a relatively small cost (20L of Joe and Mick estimate that left doesn’t get out of control. glyphosate, fuel and 30 hours of labour uncontrolled, silverleaf nightshade each year), this strategy avoids potential would spread to cover a third of their Early recognition of the plant as a weed losses of yield and carrying capacity worth property. The impact on their enterprise was also important. They feel that if they approximately $9,500 each year. could be estimated from NSW DPI trial had known less about it, they may not results across different seasons that have been so determined to control it. showed that average pasture production may be reduced by 40% and crop yields Treating silverleaf nightshade as an ✔ by 20%. ongoing part of the summer season’s Top tips farm management activities at For other farmers with a similar silverleaf Based on these levels of impact, and Woodlands has been essential. nightshade problem, Joe and Mick suggest: the NSW DPI Farm Budget gross margins of $40/hd for sheep and $85/ha The persistent nature of this weed, ✔✔Get it early – it’s easier and cheaper to for the typical crop mix at Woodlands, combined with a ready source of seed control it early than when established. preventing the spread of silverleaf from the neighbouring farm and forest, ✔✔Check known hot-spots regularly, nightshade at Woodlands is returning an means that the Hopwoods believe they particularly in December and January. annual benefit of approximately $9,500. will need to continue to maintain their control strategy for many years to come. ✔✔Look everywhere, as it can come up in Joe and Mick note that lucerne new places. competes strongly against silverleaf ✔✔Spot spray to remove each plant before nightshade. In estimating the economic it sets seed. impact, they assume that the weed has little or no impact on lucerne ✔✔Use herbicides like glyphosate on productivity. If competitive lucerne crop stubble in summer, before silverleaf pastures weren’t part of this farming nightshade goes to seed. system, the potential impact of silverleaf ✔✔Sow lucerne to compete against nightshade would be even greater. silverleaf nightshade.

14 Other publications from AWI and MLA:

3D Weed Management: Silverleaf nightshade

Tips & Tools: Weed removers, pasture improvers – Effective weed control

Several of the images of silverleaf nightshade in For more information contact: this document were supplied by the NSW Department of Primary Industries AWI www.wool.com.au Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information or 1800 070 099 contained in this publication. However MLA and AWI cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained MLA in the publication. You should make your own enquiries www.mla.com.au before making decisions concerning your interests. or 1800 023 100

15 Tel 1800 023 100 Tel 1800 070 099 www.mla.com.au www.wool.com.au