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 of time each year. By avoiding a 50% loss of carrying owned by absentee landholders. Alan Avoided 50% loss of capacity, the strategy gives a benefit of works closely with many neighbours carrying capacity $50,000 but with so many involved, frequent around $50,000 each year. turnover, and some with little focus Annual net benefit $42,300 on weed management, it is difficult Ongoing containment of serrated to achieve a uniform, high level of Keys to success tussock into the future will require well coordinated, “whole of district” commitment to the control and Alan believes the key factors of a management of the weed, as the spread elimination of the weed. successful serrated tussock program of the weed from one property is a include: Alan is worried that serrated tussock will source of new infestations for others in become increasingly difficult to control. ➜➜Realistically assessing costs/losses if the district. He has seen properties and studied weed control is not undertaken. research where serrated tussock has ➜➜Formulating a realistic control ✔ more than halved productivity and has program. Top tips significantly degraded the environment. Alan’s recommendations to other people His program aims to avoid this situation, ➜➜Timely and thorough adherence to in this situation are: which he believes would almost the program. be a certainty if the weed was left ➜➜A full understanding of the weed. ✔✔Eradicate the weed before it gets a unmanaged. grip on your property. ➜➜Always being on the look-out for ✔ Alan strongly believes that a longer weeds that have been missed and new ✔Centre a control strategy around term solution lies in a “community- weed invasions. prevention of seeding. owned” weed control program, where ➜➜In the future, a coordinated, “whole ✔✔Use a combination of control options all stakeholders are involved, and advice, of community” approach to serrated that are applicable to your situation. good leadership and supervision are provided. tussock control will be essential, ✔✔Undertake careful and regular otherwise individual farmers will be property surveillance, to detect and Benefits and costs faced with ever increasing levels of quickly treat new infestations. weed infestations. Alan has been able to contain serrated ✔✔Community-wide programs are the tussock invasion of his property for only ones that will work in the long 10 years. He feels he is able to prevent run, so encourage your neighbours seeding and is eliminating new weeds. and public land managers to be active Despite dry conditions, his pastures are against serrated tussock and to work strong and perennial grasses provide together in a coordinated program. excellent groundcover.
5 Case Study 2 - Berridale, New South Wales
Case Study 2 - Avonside & Muniong John and Rosemary King, “Avonside” and “Muniong”, Berridale, New South Wales
John King and his wife Rosemary run the properties Avonside and Muniong in conjunction with his son Simon and Simon’s wife Kristina. The properties are in the Varney’s Range between Berridale and Jindabyne, in the lee of the Snowy Mountains.
The production system Dalgety, and it had been common valuer with the then State Bank of NSW. practice to walk livestock annually from John had observed the productivity and Avonside, which is 539 ha, was Dalgety to the summer leases in the economic impact of serrated tussock purchased by John’s father in 1932 Snowy Mountains. The Dalgety property elsewhere in the Southern Tablelands. and has been run by John since 1968. is well known for having one of the first Sadly, John Munro’s predictions were Muniong, which is 1,127 ha, was serious infestations of serrated tussock prophetic and serrated tussock became purchased in 2002 to accommodate in the Monaro Plains. a significant problem for the district. Simon’s return to the farm in 1998 and to broaden the sheep breeding enterprise and Merino genetic base. While isolated serrated tussock plants As a consequence of these experiences, have been found throughout the whole John’s overall goal for the control of property, the infestation is largely serrated tussock at Avonside is to John is a dedicated, specialist Merino confined to a number of large patches, “never let a serrated tussock plant seed breeder. He established a Merino stud mainly along the old stock routes and on the property”. However, he is quick in 1990. A commercial Angus cattle campsites. to point out that eradication is all but breeding herd is run to complement the impossible. sheep operation. The incentive to act Serrated tussock John King is regarded as an extremely conscientious and highly motivated Deliberation Serrated tussock was first identified person and someone who has a strong as a weed on Avonside in the 1950s As a young, ambitious and conscientious sense of moral responsibility. He always when John was about to commence his farmer, John set his own goals for strives to implement best practice in all farming career. At this time, little was managing serrated tussock and has aspects of farm management. known about the weed and it was easily stuck to them throughout his farming mistaken for a range of native tussock life. grasses of similar appearance. John has a particularly strong commitment to controlling weeds, A desire to implement best farm especially serrated tussock which not John believes that serrated tussock was practice farming and maximise only affects personal productivity but established on Avonside from seeds efficiency encouraged John to seek out that of others as well. transferred in dung or physically attached professional knowledge and guidance. to livestock that were regularly moved through the property. Part of Avonside The potential enormity of the problem He became an active member of originally formed a larger property at of serrated tussock was emphasised various working parties and steering to him by John Munro, an experienced groups who were similarly committed
6 Case Study 2 - Berridale, New South Wales
to controlling serrated tussock both at a serrated tussock plants in winter using During dry periods, when the local and regional level. This involvement low rates of flupropanate. level of groundcover is declining, was not only beneficial to the broader stock are moved and relocated to farming community - it also allowed Pastures and cropping sacrifice paddocks for more intensive John to meet and share experiences supplementary feeding. Sacrifice There were limited control options with some key individuals working with paddocks are subsequently integrated available in the early days, but and researching serrated tussock. into a pasture renovation program. fortunately John’s pasture improvement program of conventional tillage, fodder John King has been serious about cropping and sowing introduced Hand chipping controlling serrated tussock for the pastures, such as Australian phalaris and Chipping with a mattock is used to better part of the 50 years since it was sub clover, held the serrated tussock at remove plants that are identified when a first identified on his property. This bay. This approach is now recommended herbicide spray pack is not immediately positive identification, together with for serrated tussock control on arable at hand. confirmation of the seriousness of the land. weed by a well respected and trusted source, was the catalyst for a lifetime All perennial pastures are sown primarily commitment to addressing the problem. Diligence to Australian phalaris due to its high levels of persistence and ability to To achieve an effective level of control compete actively with serrated tussock John implements a simple monitoring Diversity in the seedlings. Newer varieties of tall fescue strategy. He “religiously” covers “every approach are also included in the mix, together square inch of the property” annually with plantain, but the mainstay remains in his quest to spot spray every live When John first started to control Australian phalaris. tussock plant he finds. serrated tussock the range of control options were limited. Pastures receive regular applications of In the initial program, from 1965 to fertiliser. 1980, this took around three months At that time the only known herbicide each year and required several 20 litre drums of herbicide. Today the same was 2,2-DPA, a wettable powder which Grazing management was non selective at the high rates task can be achieved in less than a recommended. The initial strategy Due to the development of the Merino week using three litres of flupropanate. involved either chipping or spot spraying stud and the need to run small mobs According to John, the job is neither with 2,2-DPA to control individual plants of sheep in small paddocks it is not difficult nor expensive – it just takes or a planned pasture improvement practical to rotationally graze pastures. time. program, especially in areas of heavier However, John is conscious of the need infestation. to maintain adequate groundcover and to encourage the competitiveness of the perennial pasture base. Over time, John’s approach has been modified as his understanding and exposure to the problem of serrated tussock increased, and as more detailed knowledge of the plant and its control became available.
Herbicides The optimum time to identify and treat serrated tussock is during winter, when flupropanate works very effectively. Flupropanate is used to spot spray every live serrated tussock plant that John identifies in his careful monitoring. John values the residual nature of this herbicide.
While acknowledging that glyphosate has a useful role in helping prevent seed set, John is convinced that this is a sign of poor planning and implementation after “the horse has bolted”. Instead, he aims to carefully monitor and treat
7 Case Study 2 - Berridale, New South Wales
Summary To prevent the weed from growing and Keys to success spreading, John adheres to a number of John King suggests a number of factors John King has been at the forefront of routine and reliable practices which are have been instrumental in his successful the battle to control serrated tussock instrumental to his success. throughout his working life as a grazier control program: in the Monaro/Snowy Mountains region In every vehicle on the property, ➜ Receiving good advice at an early of NSW. John has been actively fighting including quad bikes and four wheel ➜ serrated tussock both in the paddocks of drives, there is always either a knapsack stage from a well respected and Avonside and as a proactive member of sprayer mixed up with flupropanate or credible person about the potential producer groups and regional advisory a mattock. These are used every time impact of the weed. committees. a tussock plant is found. This policy ensures that each identified plant is ➜➜Heeding that advice by implementing John’s effective approach to managing removed and prevented from seeding. an ongoing control program. serrated tussock involves determination John is adamant that the best time to and diligence over many years to prevent control serrated tussock is “when you ➜➜Continually improving and modifying the weed from seeding anywhere on the find it”. property. He believes that the majority of that program by taking into account the weed problem originates from your changes in technical knowledge. own property. Benefits and costs At present, the property is largely free ➜➜Maintaining the control effort of serrated tussock. John said that if he John’s years of endeavour and commitment religiously from year-to-year. mean that the problem of serrated tussock had not undertaken his management strategy, all areas would now be is now well under control. John is confident that his current affected by heavy infestations covering strategy to control serrated tussock 25% or more of the land. Annual control measures used to take will continue to be successful into the months but now take less than one week future. However, he has had enough This level of infestation would be a year and only three litres of herbicide. At experience of the weed to know that expected to halve his stocking rate, a cost of $590 per year, this control avoids “you can never take your eye off the and reduce the remaining adult wool a potential loss of carrying capacity and ball”. productivity worth around $62,500 each cut from 7 kg/head to 4.5 kg/head. The annual benefit of his weed management year. This control has been achieved Fundamental to his confidence is the in preventing such an outcome, despite ongoing dry conditions and in amount of time he has been managing measured as the current value of wool the face of an escalating weed problem it and his understanding of the plant’s production, is estimated to be $62,500. elsewhere in the district. biology. The benefit derived from managing Over the past 25 years, his policy of serrated tussock over the past 50 years Top tips ✔ never allowing a plant to seed means is significant in relation to the ongoing that the weed seed bank at Avonside The King families’ top tips for preventing annual costs. The annual direct control is now very low and new infestations the growth and spread of serrated tussock costs for serrated tussock have been generally come from external sources. are: estimated by John at $590, including herbicide ($90) and time ($500). ✔✔Always have a knapsack sprayer of flupropanate, and/or a mattock, in every Annual costs and benefits of farm vehicle, including quad bikes. weed management ✔✔Never take your eye off the ball - control serrated tussock when you find it. Costs Herbicide $90 Labour for monitoring and spot spraying $500
Benefits Avoided 50% loss of carrying capacity and 35% reduction in adult wool cut/head $62,500 Annual net benefit $61,900
8 Case Study 3 - Inverleigh, Victoria
Case Study 3 - Barwonleigh Duncan and Maxine Campbell, “Barwonleigh”, Inverleigh, Victoria
Duncan and Maxine Campbell own Barwonleigh, a 2,359 ha property near Geelong in Victoria. Barwonleigh has been in their family for 108 years.
The production system the blowing weed seed and allowing the Duncan and Maxine were also under serrated tussock to establish. pressure from the State Government to Historically Barwonleigh was run as actively manage their serrated tussock. a fine wool grazing enterprise that typically stocked up to 20,000 Merino By 2000, around 85% of Barwonleigh ewes. had become highly infested with They wanted to eradicate the serrated serrated tussock, forcing the Campbells tussock “to be free of its curse”. to reassess their management options. Today the Campbells run 6,000 fine wool Merino ewes, 130 Angus cattle and a cropping rotation of wheat, barley They embarked on a 10 year strategy Deliberation and canola. In addition, Duncan and to manage serrated tussock, and now, six years into that strategy, they have In their effort to deal with serrated Maxine now lease 150 ha of their land to tussock, Duncan and Maxine have tried a free range piggery and a small area to gained control of the weed and believe they will eventually eradicate it. a number of approaches, such as aerial a beef feedlot. spraying and aerial seeding, with mixed results. The key changes to the way the The incentive to act Campbells manage their farming Being fifth generation farmers In the late 1990s, the Campbells tried business were made in response to an themselves, Duncan and Maxine strive aerial spraying the serrated tussock. This increasing serrated tussock infestation to make continual improvements to method of control was unsuccessful first found on their property over their property to ensure that they have as the chemical killed competing native 15 years ago. a profitable and sustainable farming grasses and left bare ground for the business to pass onto their own serrated tussock to re-establish. They Serrated tussock children. Controlling serrated tussock also tried aerial seeding of competitive was vital if the farm was to survive. When Duncan and Maxine first found pastures, however this too proved serrated tussock on Barwonleigh in the unsuccessful. early 1990s, they were unaware of its The Campbell’s relationship with their significance, or the potential problem neighbours was also under threat as Their real breakthrough came in that it would become. seed spread to their properties by wind. 2001 when they developed a 10 year Stopping the seed from leaving the management plan for Barwonleigh. farm was a very early motivation to take Barwonleigh is a north-facing property Together with local leading farmers, they action. with a slope of approximately 30 m formed a group to get some other ideas running from an old volcano down to on how to manage the serrated tussock river flats. Basalt rock barriers covered problem. the majority of the property, catching
9 Case Study 3 - Inverleigh, Victoria
Duncan plans to manage the grazing of ewes on the pastures to ensure that the pastures remain competitive against the invasion of serrated tussock.
Other options trialled The increased area of arable land on Barwonleigh has given the Campbells flexibility to trial a range of other weed management options. ➜➜Pigs have proven useful in digging out and removing the serrated tussock as well as fertilising the soil. ➜➜Tree corridors have been planted on all boundary fences to prevent the seed being blown to and from neighbours. ➜➜Farm forestry (pine, sugar gum) is used to catch the spreading seed as well as shading out the serrated tussock – the weed still grows but does not seed as prolifically. The Campbell’s plan has since guided Rocks were dug from the paddock ➜➜Burning the serrated tussock while it their decisions on how to control the with excavators and pushed into is seeding is used to reduce the amount weed. windrows with bulldozers. The land was of seed set, which is a good temporary then cultivated to encourage further measure. One source of information on the germination of weeds. management of serrated tussock ➜➜Growing potatoes has given effective was the NSW Department of Primary Following weed germination, the land control but the return on the product Industries as well as other landholders was sprayed with glyphosate, once in varies. with infested land. Family friends spring and then again before being sown have also been an important source of to crops in autumn. Manure from the support and help for the family. piggery and feedlot was a useful form of Diligence fertiliser. The key to their plan was to increase Duncan and Maxine feel that “diligence the arable area of Barwonleigh and Cropping is a must”. They believe that sticking consequently the options available for to their 10 year plan has got them to The second phase of the strategy management. where they are today. They stress the involved a nine-year cropping cycle with importance of staying focused and a pre-sowing herbicide spray to kill any remaining positive. emerging serrated tussock seedlings. Diversity in the One of their techniques to ensure approach Canola, wheat and barley are cropped in that they remain in control of serrated rotation three times to try to eliminate tussock on Barwonleigh is constant In order for the Campbells to control serrated tussock seeds. This cropping monitoring. Where new outbreaks are serrated tussock they realised that phase is also used to control any found, Maxine treats the area by spot they would have to completely change other weeds that may come up in the spraying or other appropriate means. the way their property had been cropping phase. managed. They implemented a three- The strict monitoring on Barwonleigh phase management strategy of land Pastures will continue, to make sure that preparation, cropping and pasture management practices are the most development. The third phase involved sowing a pasture mix of ryegrass, clovers, effective for keeping serrated tussock phalaris, cocksfoot and medics after the out of crops and pastures. Land preparation final year of the cropping cycle. These The first phase was to prepare the non- species have been chosen because of arable land for cultivation. their ability to out-compete serrated tussock.
10 Case Study 3 - Inverleigh, Victoria
Benefits and costs They have found that the experience of having to manage such a significant Summary The Campbells have estimated their problem as serrated tussock has Duncan and Maxine Campbell’s 10 year direct costs of serrated tussock improved the communication between strategy to manage serrated tussock at management to be about family members and ultimately the farm Barwonleigh includes: $212,000 per annum, which includes business by all having to work together. the cost of removing the rocks, chemical ✔✔Converting rock barrier, tussock- spraying, and an additional 600 hours of infected country to cropping country by labour each year. On the less positive side, other costs the family continue to bear include the clearing rocks. huge financial drain of clearing land and These costs have been offset by an ✔✔A nine-year cropping cycle in arable changing enterprises, and finding staff improvement in the overall productivity areas before sowing to pasture. with the same commitment to work on of Barwonleigh. Unchecked, Duncan the problem with them. The Campbells ✔✔Leasing country to a free range estimated that serrated tussock would must also deal with the stress and piggery to lift soil fertility. reduce the carrying capacity by around anxiety created by: 20%. At $6/DSE, this equates to an ✔✔A regular fertiliser program to annual benefit of around $60,000. ➜➜Working with such a rampant weed. maintain strong, competitive pastures. ➜➜Their lack of knowledge of working ✔✔A tree planting program to stop The increase in the area of arable with a new enterprise. seed from blowing off and around the land achieved through the removal of the rock barriers on Barwonleigh has ➜➜Not knowing if actions taken will property. increased the amount of land that can work. ✔✔Regular autumn/winter spraying of be cropped. The additional financial ➜➜The policing of new laws where hot spots including aerial, boom and spot benefit obtained through their cropping landowners are now totally responsible spraying. enterprise is valued at around $290,000 per year. for eradication of noxious weeds. ✔✔Constant monitoring and treatment of ➜➜Making such a huge ongoing outbreaks. Taking these costs and benefits commitment. ✔✔Trialling and re-evaluating all into account, the net benefit of the procedures used. Campbells’ serrated tussock strategy is Keys to success estimated to be approximately Six years into the strategy, Duncan $140,000 per annum. Duncan and Maxine consider the critical factors to their success in managing and Maxine have reduced the area of serrated tussock to be: infestation from 85% to less than 10%. Annual costs and benefits of ➜ Whilst their strategy is estimated to cost weed management ➜Researching the weed and options around $210,000 a year, this is offset by for management. an annual benefit in excess of $350,000. Costs ➜➜Constant monitoring. Rock removal, chemical ➜ control and additional labour $212,000 ➜Being willing to try new ideas. Top tips ✔ ➜➜Persevering with the problem and Benefits not giving up. Duncan and Maxine’s useful tips for Avoided 20% loss of other farmers with serrated tussock are: carrying capacity $60,000 ➜➜Being in a financial position to be ✔✔Take a long term approach with a Increased financial able to manage serrated tussock. benefit from cropping $290,000 continual focus on removing the weed. The greatest challenges faced by the ✔✔Develop and implement a 10 year Annual net benefit $138,000 Campbells have been keeping the management plan for serrated tussock property viable, borrowing money to control, beginning with the greatest The annual costs will reduce significantly manage serrated tussock, and taking on Note: gains first. when the removal of rock on the planned new ideas and management techniques. area is complete. Net benefit will improve ✔✔Work with others, particularly due to decreased costs and innovative farm neighbours who have the weed – management. someone who can offer support when The Campbells know that, now they the going gets tough. have serrated tussock under control, ✔✔Change farm management to include their farm asset has appreciated, and cropping on the arable land. their diverse range of farm enterprises ✔✔Keep at it! Don’t give up! helps them better manage risk.
11 Case Study 4 - Binda, New South Wales
Case Study 4 - Brooklyn Murray and Barbara Stephenson, “Brooklyn”, Binda, New South Wales
Murray and Barbara moved to Brooklyn, near Binda in the Crookwell region, about 25 years ago. The 340 ha property, of which 160 ha is arable, was originally used for wool production.
The production system The incentive to act Deliberation The Stephensons have more recently The greatest impact of the serrated When the Stephensons became aware concentrated on prime lamb production tussock infestation was on Brooklyn’s of the problem posed by serrated because of low wool prices. They carrying capacity. Where the weed tussock, it was clear to them that currently run 1,700 Merino and first- was not controlled in the past, Murray something had to be done to prevent cross ewes and sell 1,700 lambs each estimated there was a 40% reduction the weed from further affecting farm year. in the stocking rate, as the weed productivity. competed with both introduced and About 50% of the farm is sown with native pasture species. Once this goal had been set, action had introduced pastures - clover, cocksfoot to be taken to stop their farm being and ryegrass - with the balance being Little information was available about taken over by serrated tussock and good quality native species, mainly control methods when serrated tussock becoming unviable. microlaena. They believe this pasture was first recognised as a problem, so mix is optimum for the area. the Stephensons’ approach was largely The Stephensons initially took the based on trial and error. path of maximum impact, ploughing Serrated tussock the weed out of the worst affected Once the Stephensons recognised Serrated tussock was first noticed when areas and sowing introduced pastures, serrated tussock was a problem, they the Stephensons bought Brooklyn including clover, cocksfoot and ryegrass. quickly realised that it had the potential 25 years ago, but it was not recognised They hoped that the introduced pastures to rapidly spread and reduce their as a problem weed until five years would out-compete serrated tussock. carrying capacity. They were concerned later. The weed spread rapidly and they Unfortunately, cultivation encouraged that their land would become useless realised it was a prolific seeder, with the weed to spread and the pasture for grazing, unless serrated tussock was new infestations establishing down- species could not compete. controlled. wind from existing stands, or on land where soil had been recently disturbed. Murray and Barbara soon learnt that it The main goals of their strategy were was also necessary to treat the weeds (and still are) stopping the spread of Due to their diligence, the property now with herbicide during the pasture serrated tussock into new areas of has only isolated patches of serrated establishment phase. the farm, and reducing the impact tussock. of existing infestations on carrying capacity.
12 Case Study 4 - Binda, New South Wales
Serrated tussock also infests native Herbicide About every five years, Murray excludes pasture areas and in these areas, Murray Application of flupropanate is the stock from areas of native pasture in late and Barbara rely on herbicide to kill preferred method of control for serrated spring to allow the pastures to set seed. the weed. In the early years they had tussock. In Murray and Barbara’s limited success, because it was not well experience, this has been superior to understood how best to treat serrated glyphosate. Diligence tussock with herbicide. Vigilance and perseverance are Murray and Barbara have learnt over important to the continued success of time that the key to success with the Stephensons’ weed control strategy. Diversity in the herbicide is timing the spraying to This means checking areas regularly and approach allow pastures to gain a competitive spot spraying when new tussocks are advantage over the sprayed weed. found. The Stephensons do this about After initial trial and error, the They spray serrated tussock when the three times per year over the whole Stephensons implemented two key pasture species (introduced or native) property. phases of the control program. For are dormant, and spot spray weeds to the first 15 years, they undertook an avoid chemical damage to surrounding They concentrate on boundaries, where intensive spot spraying and pasture pastures. there is a higher risk of seed blowing improvement program, requiring about in from neighbours, and on areas of two weeks of full-time labour each Murray uses a novel approach in his the farm that have had recent soil year. This largely eradicated the bigger spray application for serrated tussock. disturbance. patches of serrated tussock and reduced He applies a metered dose to each the number of new seedlings. tussock plant with a modified drench Murray and Barbara have observed that gun. Targeting the herbicide at the base serrated tussock is an opportunistic For the past five years, Murray and of the plant minimises its effect on the weed and a prolific seeder. New plants Barbara have been able scale down their surrounding pasture cover, helping to quickly grow in areas where the soil has control program. Murray now spends reduce the area of bare ground on which been disturbed or exposed through over only two days per year spot spraying any serrated tussock seed could germinate. grazing. new seedlings, with a focus on those parts of the farm where the soil has Pastures been disturbed. Benefits and costs Ensuring pastures retain their vigour is The Stephensons are very pleased with also important. For introduced pastures, Their control strategy relies on the outcomes of their weed control fertiliser is applied according to soil test herbicide treatment, complemented strategy and recognise that much of results, averaging about 125 kg/ha of by competitive pastures. Cultivation is their success has come from hard work. single superphosphate annually. now used only to establish introduced pastures and not as a tool for serrated The main impact of serrated tussock tussock control. was the reduction in carrying capacity, which was up to 40% in some areas of Brooklyn. The control program has doubled the carrying capacity over the past 20 years, thereby improving farm profitability.
13 Case Study 4 - Binda, New South Wales
Summary Their serrated tussock management is a Annual costs and benefits of labour intensive exercise but it would be weed management Murray and Barbara Stephenson have more difficult and costly if labour had to effectively managed serrated tussock at be hired to carry out the work. Costs Brooklyn by: Herbicide $150 ✔✔Taking action when the weed was first After 20 years, the Stephensons have Additional labour for recognised as a problem. only just achieved a situation that monitoring and spraying $600 they believe is manageable, but the ✔✔Vigilance and perseverance for knowledge they have gained should help Benefits continued success in weed control. others control serrated tussock more 50% increase in carrying ✔✔Targeted spot spraying of serrated quickly. capacity (extra 3.5 DSE/ha tussock plants, when pasture species are valued at $40/DSE) $47,600 The key enterprise of the farm has dormant. shifted over this period from wool- Annual net benefit $46,850 ✔✔Encouraging competitive pastures and focused sheep production to prime avoiding bare ground by taking care with lambs. This has increased the financial Note: that only part of this value can be spot spraying, fertilising based on soil test returns per dry sheep equivalent (DSE), attributed to serrated tussock control, as pasture requirements, and spelling native pastures increasing the dollar value of benefits improvement and the change from wool to prime derived from controlling serrated lambs also boosted annual returns. about every five years to allow them to set tussock, and subsequently increasing seed. carrying capacity. Keys to success Murray and Barbara suggest that the The carrying capacity of Brooklyn has Carrying capacity has increased from doubled as a result of effective weed critical elements of their success with 3.5 DSE/ha 20 years ago to 7 DSE/ha, serrated tussock have been: control combined with other pasture so the return from each hectare of the management strategies. It is estimated that farm has essentially doubled. Based on ➜➜Applying herbicide to serrated weed management on Brooklyn cost $7,595 an estimated gross margin of $40/DSE, tussock when pasture species are over the past 20 years, and when combined annual return has increased by around dormant. with pasture improvement and enterprise $140/ha. change, the annual benefit exceeds ➜➜Controlling tussocks as soon as they are found. Don’t take the attitude “there $46,000. In addition, Murray indicated that the value of the farm has also increased, are only a few tussocks so I’ll wait a year now that it is relatively free of serrated or so”. Top tips ✔ tussock. Murray and Barbara have the following tips for farmers managing serrated tussock: There is also a benefit to the community from the control of serrated tussock on ✔✔Talk to other farmers in the first Brooklyn. Controlling the source of seed instance, to see what they have done and will reduce serrated tussock’s ability to achieved. rapidly spread to other farms. ✔ Attack the weed when density is still ✔ The primary costs of Murray’s control low and before it goes to seed. strategy have been flupropanate ✔✔Be vigilant, watch for new plants and labour. As the areas affected by germinating, and act quickly. serrated tussock declined and vigorous ✔ pastures helped to protect against ✔Spot spray with flupropanate, targeting new germination, less spraying was the serrated tussock plant carefully to necessary. In earlier years, Murray avoid killing the surrounding pasture. estimated herbicide costs at $150 per ✔✔Avoid having areas of bare ground year, with around $600 for his own where serrated tussock can germinate. labour. The total cost over past 20 years is $7,595. ✔✔Be prepared to commit time and energy to an effective control strategy.
14 Other publications from AWI and MLA:
3D Weed Management: Serrated tussock
Tips & Tools: Weed removers, pasture improvers – Effective weed control
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