A Good Weed A Good Weed The Newsletter of POSTAGE The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. SURFACE PAID PO Box 438 MAIL AUSTRALIA The Newsletter of the Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. Wahroonga NSW 2076 ISSN 1325-3689 Print Post Approved PP247134/00010 The Weed Society of New South Wales acknowledges the generous support of the following organisations for their sponsorship of the Society and this Newsletter Good Weed A Good Weed A G o o dW e e d If unable to deliver return to: A PRINT POSTAGE The Newsletter of The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. POST PAID PO Box 438 PP247134/00010 AUSTRALIA Wahroonga NSW 2076 Newsletter of The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. ISSN 1325-3689 A Good Weed Print Post Approved PP247134/00010 In This Issue #58 Autumn 2012 The Newsletter Of The Weed Society Of New South Wales Inc. ISSN 1325-3689 The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. acknowledges the generous support of the following organisations for their sponsorship of the Society and this Newsletter A Good Weed #58 Autumn 2012 President’s Column Unfortunately, there has been limited attention fo- cused on what will happen beyond mid year, either in terms of on-going federal funding or the realisa- tion of a new weeds research centre. The challenge for all weeds workers is to ensure that weed manage- ment retains a strong profile. The NSW Government has recently announced $2.5 million program for invasive weed control on gov- ernment land. Weed control, monitoring and coordi- nation across 36 million hectares of NSW Govern- ment land will be targeted with this initiative. This follows on from the $8 million regional Weeds Ac- Welcome to a new year. The committee is keen to tion Program and the roll-out of 13 regional weed be proactive in ensuring that the society remains management projects across the State, demonstrating relevant to the general membership, and that we are an increasing awareness within state government of able to continue achieving worthy goals. I would the importance of weed management. welcome feedback from any society member on ini- The society executive has discussed the recently tiatives that should be considered, or other ways in formed Invasive Species Research Chapter for the which the society can better serve the membership. Ecological Society of Australia. There may be scope This year several major weeds conferences are being for linkages to be built between the two organisa- held. The International Congress will be held in tions, as understanding the ecology of weeds is the China in June, and the Australasian Conference will first step in developing successful management be held in October. Society members should note plans. More detail on this subject is provided in this that there are opportunities to apply for travel sup- newsletter. port from both the Society and from CAWS. Details Happy Weeding. are provided in this newsletter on how to apply. I would also encourage anyone who attends major functions to consider providing a brief report for in- Rex Stanton (Dr) clusion in this newsletter. President I would also draw attention to the CAWS Medal for Leadership. This medal recognises the lengthy and influential career of someone involved with weeds. New Members Details on previous recipients and the nomination process can be found on the CAWS website The Society would like to welcome the following (www.caws.org.au). The society secretary would to two new members: glad to receive nominations over the new few months. Christopher Indyka Ecobiological, Warners Bay. It is now several years since the last Weeds CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) finished. Since then, Md. Asaduzzaman there has been $15 million of federal funding pro- CSU PhD student. vided as a stop-gap measure until a replacement en- tity (Australian Weeds Research Centre) could be formed. These funds were administered initially by Members’ benefits include: Department of Agriculture and Forestry (DAF), who distributed around $4 million in funding for a range • a quarterly newsletter of short term projects. More recently, Rural Indus- • reduced registration fees for Society functions, tries Research and Development Corporation • reduced membership fees for students, and (RIRDC) have administered the distribution of the • the opportunity to become involved in all of remaining funds on projects due for completion by the Society activities. mid year. Page 1 A Good Weed #58 Autumn 2012 Major Project Funded by our Society TTransferringransferring Significant Weed Collection from University of Sydney to National Herbarium of New South Wales The society’s new project, “Moving part of the A formal contract, listing terms and conditions, was Weeds Herbarium from the Department of Agron- drawn up between Dr Peter Michael and the Society. omy & Horticultural Science, University of Sydney This was to ensure transparency and good govern- to the National Herbarium of New South Wales, ance. One of the conditions of the contract was hav- Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney”, has been under- ing written permission from the University of Syd- way since late January 2012 with over 200 herbar- ney to allow the transfer of the specimens and a for- ium boxes examined. This examination is a prelimi- mal acceptance from the Royal Botanical Gardens, nary sort listing the contents of each box, culling Sydney, to receive them. Both agreements have inadequate or damaged material and re-arrangement been obtained. of specimens, if necessary. Following the initial sorting all specimens will be entered on a database, a requirement of the National Herbarium of New South Wales. Mike Barrett is assisting Peter in this work. Peter Michael inspecting a box of Xanthium specimens dur- ing the initial sorting to cull out inadequate or damaged sam- ples. The student collection, which is to be retained by the University, is in the white herbarium boxes in the back- ground. The Weeds Herbarium has a collection of Echinoch- loa of world-wide significance and an outstanding collection of Oxalis which will be the first to be en- tered into the database. Other weedy genera include Amaranthus, Conyza, Gnaphalium , Gamochaeta, Senecio, Xanthium, Onopordum and Verbena. The herbarium, consisting of some 4 000 to 5 000 speci- mens, was put together from 1970 onwards by Dr. Peter Michael explaining to Jim Swain the difference Peter Michael including not only his own collections between a native Senecio and S. madagascariensis. but also from students and other sources. Page 2 A Good Weed #58 Autumn 2012 Parthenium Weed One of New South Wales’ most serious weed threats Parthenium weed is a Class 1 (State Prohibited) nox- NNewew Infestation found ious weed. in the Riverina It is a vigorous coloniser of bare ground, degraded PaulPaulaa Bosse pastures and disturbed sites being a fast growing an- nual plant with prolific seed production. Once estab- lished, Parthenium weed very quickly builds a huge An extensive infestation of Parthenium weed, seed bank in the soil which makes eradication diffi- Parthenium hysterophorus, has been discovered on cult and expensive. the Conargo-Jerilderie Rd by Geoff Portbury st (Jerilderie Shire’s Weeds Officer), on the 1 Febru- Parthenium weed contains powerful allergens that ary 2012. The infestation starts approximately 3kms cause a range of human health problems, including west of Jerilderie and extends for a further 7km to- asthma and severe contact dermatitis in sensitised wards Conargo. The main infestation is on both individuals. sides of the road extending west of a rather rough patch of road. It could be that a vehicle has hit the It is a threat to agriculture because it is unpalatable rough patch and shaken the seed loose. Many of the to livestock and competes with pastures and crop plants discovered were in full flower. This infesta- seedlings. Livestock carrying capacity is signifi- tion has been controlled using mechanical removal cantly reduced in areas where it becomes established and chemical treatment. and it adds to weed control costs for grain producers. Parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophorus. Image: Geoff Portbury Riverina’s Rapid Response Plan in Action! Cooperative arrangements - neighbouring Weed Officers Parthenium weed has not been located in the Riv- assisted with the surveillance and removal of the recent in- erina since April 2003 according to the Riverina’s cursion of Parthenium weed. New Incursion Database. Parthenium weed has been Clockwise from top left: Alan Gundrill - Lockhart Shire, found previously at: Rodney Anderson - Urana Shire, Geoff Portbury - Jeriderie Shire, Patrick Minogue - Corowa Shire 1995 Narrandera, Newell Highway 1999 Carrathool, Kidman Way Image: Neil Hibberson Carrathool,Mitchell Road Carrathool, Sloans Road Further information: 1980 Central Murray County Council, Cobb Highway Jerilderie, Newell Highway Paula Bosse 2001 Urana, Newell Highway Riverina Noxious Weeds Project Officer 2001/2002 Wakool,Tueloga Road Greater Hume Shire Council 2003 Jerilderie, Newell Highway. Email: [email protected] Page 3 A Good Weed #58 Autumn 2012 The building of the Mungindi wash-down facility PPartheniumarthenium Weed was funded by the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment ‘Wash‘Wash‘Wash-‘Wash---downdown Bays’ Management Authority in collaboration with NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), A step in reducing the weed’s spread Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Council and Moree from Queensland Plains Shire Council. JJonathanonathan Lawson Inspectors employed by NSW DPI at the Queensland border carry out mandatory inspections of grain har- vesting machinery under the Noxious Weed Act. On average, over 200 headers cross the border at Parthenium weed is declared a Weed of National Mungindi and harvesting operators have welcomed Significance (WONS). It currently infests more than the wash-down facilities and this is reflected by the eight million hectares of land in Central Queensland increase of header crossings at Mungindi since 2010.