Serrated Tussock Case Studies Four Case Studies of Farmers Managing Serrated Tussock in Grazing Systems

3D weed management Serrated Tussock Case Studies Four Case Studies of Farmers Managing Serrated Tussock in Grazing Systems HELPING PRODUCERS TO MANAGE WEEDS IN GRAZING SYSTEMS Introduction Contents: Page Case Study 1 - Alan and Leanne Heath, “Athlone”, Mudgee, New South Wales 3 - 5 Case Study 2 - John and Rosemary King, “Avonside” and “Muniong”, Berridale, New South Wales 6 - 8 Case Study 3 - Duncan and Maxine Campbell, “Barwonleigh”, Inverleigh, Victoria 9 - 11 Case Study 4 - Murray and Barbara Stephenson, “Brooklyn”, Binda, New South Wales 12 - 14 Serrated tussock (Nasella Serrated tussock seeds are easily spread by wind trichotoma) is a perennial, but can also be spread by humans or animals, on cultivation implements, in vehicle tyres, on tussock-forming grass that can slashing equipment, on firewood or by moving live for more than 20 years and soil. has a deep, fibrous root system. The plant generally grows during Serrated tussock has no agricultural value. The weed is unpalatable to livestock and can reduce spring and early summer. the carrying capacity of grazing land more than any other pasture weed. Case Study 1 - Mudgee, New South Wales Case Study 1 - Athlone Alan and Leanne Heath, “Athlone”, Mudgee, New South Wales Athlone is a 1,460 ha mixed wool and cattle property located between Mudgee and Bathurst on the NSW central tablelands. First settled by the Heath family in the 1860s, Athlone is now managed by Alan and Leanne Heath. The production system Serrated tussock The incentive to act The Heaths operate a wool enterprise, Serrated tussock first invaded Athlone For more than 30 years, Alan has been with a self-replacing Merino flock and 10 years ago from adjoining land - there aware that serrated tussock could wethers, and a self-replacing Shorthorn are 19 neighbouring properties, as well develop into a major problem on his cattle breeding herd. as public roads and creeks that traverse property, if allowed to establish and the farm. spread. Lucerne and phalaris are grown on arable creek flats for hay and silage. Despite a continuous, concerted He learned from farmers in badly Most of the remaining pasture is based effort to identify and kill new serrated infested districts, such as the NSW on native perennial grasses, with annual tussock plants and prevent them from Southern Tablelands, that the weed legumes such as subterranean clover, seeding, the weed is found across the could severely limit his pasture and annual grasses. Superphosphate entire property. However, the Heaths’ productivity and therefore reduce the has been used periodically on pastures planned and continuous surveillance and profitability of his livestock enterprises. since the 1950s and arable paddocks spot spraying program has prevented have been extensively limed. weed levels from impacting on pasture Serrated tussock, left unchecked, productivity. smothers introduced and native pasture The property has been subdivided species. Native pastures are the into smaller paddocks closer to the Alan believes a “whole of community” backbone of Athlone and the potential homestead and on the arable areas, effort is required across all farms and impact of serrated tussock could with larger paddocks on steep country other lands in the area to prevent have enormous adverse economic further from the house. serrated tussock from reaching more consequences as well as posing a damaging levels. risk to the natural resources, including Grazing on the smaller paddocks is biodiversity. managed by flexible, rotational grazing. The larger paddocks are mainly set Serrated tussock can potentially become stocked for lengthy periods. Persistence a monoculture, which Alan said would of native grasses has not been a lead to ecological challenges as well problem and stocking rate is routinely as lost productivity. He said that the monitored to ensure good groundcover whole area could change to a barren and persistence of perennial plants. monoculture of a non-Australian plant and the ramifications of that on many species dependent on native vegetation could be horrific. 3 Case Study 1 - Mudgee, New South Wales carries out other farm activities. Any new plants are treated immediately by spot spraying. Spot spraying with glyphosate or flupropanate is used to kill plants when they are first identified, and to prevent seed set. Alan carries spot spraying equipment during the routine inspections and when doing other jobs such as mustering and inspecting livestock. Alan is particularly vigilant with spot spraying around laneways, fence lines and boundaries, including public lands. Pastures Alan believes competitive, perennial- based pastures are essential for profitability, as well to reduce the establishment of invading seed of Motivation for action was fuelled by Deliberation serrated tussock. He aims to have knowledge gained from other farmers, almost 100% groundcover at all times. NSW Department of Primary Industries Alan’s network of friends and his (DPI) and various publications, such as understanding of the similarity of his Pastures are mainly native perennial the NSW DPI Agfacts series. environment to infested areas, alerted grasses, with lucerne and phalaris on him to the potential impact of the the arable areas. Alan set a goal 10 years ago that has weed, should it arrive on his property. not changed - to prevent the weed With this knowledge, Alan ensured that The soils are relatively light and shallow, seeding and establishing throughout the his property was regularly checked by which limits farm production levels. property. experienced weed inspectors. Periodic superphosphate application - about every two to three years - is However, Alan is worried that this goal When the weed did arrive, Alan sufficient to maintain moderate soil will eventually become impossible to implemented a program of thorough fertility, support excellent persistence of achieve, unless the district adopts a surveillance and spot spraying, and native perennial grasses, and maintain a concerted approach to control serrated maintained a high level of groundcover good level of subterranean clover. Lime tussock. Without this, weed infestations with a perennial-based pasture. has been used extensively on the arable will continue to expand on properties country to boost pasture productivity with insufficient control programs, thus His approach to control was aimed at and competitiveness. increasing the likelihood of more seeds total prevention of weed seeding, and entering neighbouring properties. to manage pasture so that it provided Quarantine maximum competition to invading Another of Alan’s goals is to encourage weeds. Serrated tussock can also be introduced community participation. In Victoria, all by humans and contaminated vehicles. farmers in a given catchment area are Only recognised visitors who appreciate involved in an agreed control program Diversity in the and take precautions to minimise the that is supervised and supported by risks, eg, council weed control staff, are public investment. approach allowed to travel across the property. Alan has adopted an integrated serrated Alan also recognises the risk of Alan is a committee member of the tussock control program involving reintroduction of the seed via purchased Serrated Tussock Working Party for careful surveillance, herbicide use, livestock. To manage this risk, newly NSW and the ACT, which aims to foster competitive pastures and appropriate acquired animals are kept in designated a community approach to the weed’s grazing management. control. quarantine areas for two weeks. Herbicides Surveillance for new serrated tussock plants is undertaken regularly and carefully. Alan is also always looking for serrated tussock outbreaks when he 4 Case Study 1 - Mudgee, New South Wales Diligence The benefits of Alan’s program are in maintaining, as well as improving, Summary Alan says that a key to success is profitability; avoiding productivity losses; Alan Heath is managing serrated tussock continuous, careful monitoring and and protecting the value of his land. at Athlone by: timely action. Spot spraying the weed ✔ as soon as it is found is particularly Direct annual costs of the program, Using a combination of control important. Boundaries are regularly above normal farm practice, are not strategies including careful property patrolled and treated, as are creeks that high, requiring a few litres of glyphosate surveillance, prompt treatment of new run through the property. and flupropanate. An estimated infestations with spot spraying and additional 250 hours work is required competitive perennial pastures. Because serrated tussock can each year for surveillance and spot ✔ Being especially careful to monitor regenerate from “hard” seed, Alan said spraying. that it is important to continually monitor likely new weed entry points and reduce all areas, even where total control has Annual costs and benefits of the risk of seed entry where possible. been achieved. The possibility of weed weed management seed set or re-invasion cannot be ruled So far, Alan has kept serrated tussock out. Costs to a level whereby spot spraying of all Herbicides $200 infestations, combined with competitive Keeping weeds out is an ongoing pastures, is feasible and there is no Labour for monitoring and challenge, particularly with 19 adjoining impact on his revenue. The management spraying (250 hrs @ $30/hr) $7,500 farms and public lands. Some of these strategy requires a few litres of herbicide neighbours are hobby farms that are Benefits and around 250 hours

Load more