Under Control Pest Plant and Animal Management News January 2007 Number 35 15th Australian Weeds Conference – Managing weeds in a changing climate Weeds cost Australia more than $4 billion annually. To explore the many challenges facing those involved in addressing this substantial problem, the 15th bi-annual Australian Weeds Conference was held in Adelaide, South Australia between the 24th and 28th of September 2006. This major national conference was hosted by the Weed Management Society of South Australia for the Council of Australasian Weed Societies. The conference theme was ‘Managing Weeds in a Changing Climate’. This topic aimed to help weed scientists and practitioners come to terms with the DPI Victoria’s Neil Smith presenting at the Australian challenges that climate change may bring to weed Weeds Conference. Image by Tony Lovick management. The variety and quality of work being done to reduce the impact of weeds in Australia was demonstrated at the conference. Presentation topics included changing climates in Australia, national initiatives, social and policy change, biology and ecology of crop weeds, Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) species, environmental weeds, mapping and regional weed management, herbicide resistance, biological control, weed eradication, economics of weeds, community participation, partnerships and aquatic and riparian weeds. DPI Victoria was A practical demonstration of wheel cactus stem well represented at the conference, presenting on injection during the conference. Image by Tony Lovick 13 different topics. The event attracted over 400 weed scientists and In this edition of Under Control practitioners from all states of Australia and Title Page internationally and included people involved in Weed Alert puts on a show at the Australian government and private industry weeds research, Weeds Conference 2 extension, education, agribusiness, environmental Serrated tussock –herbicide resistance 3 management and farming (as well as students). Potential biological control agents for Chilean needle grass and serrated tussock 4-5 It was a good opportunity for those involved in New National Boneseed Management Manual addressing weed issues to come together and Available Now! 5 develop new professional relationships and Before the horsetails bolt - options for share knowledge. Equisetum spp. control 6-7 Potential adoption of the tranquilliser trap Weed practitioners recognised that the event device (TTD) - SURVEY NOTICE 7 provided a unique opportunity to learn about Controlling costs in declaring biological control how other states of Australia were addressing organisms 8-7 Lobed needle grass alert 9 their weed issues. Tackling Weeds on Private Land (TWoPL) – building capacity in Municipal This edition of Under Control will share some Councils to manage weeds 10-11 of the information that was presented at this Winning against Weeds of National Significance 12-13 year’s conference. Staff profile - Ian Faithfull 13 Blackberry – the prickly path to effective To purchase a copy of the full conference biological control 14-15 proceedings, (15th Australian Weeds Conference Burnt blackberry – will native shrubs aid Proceedings: managing weeds in a changing climate), suppression? 16-15 please go to www.weedinfo.com.au/bk_15awc. html Department of Sustainability and Environment Department of Primary Industries Page 2 No. 35 January 2007 Under Control Under Control – Pest Plant and Animal Weed Alert puts on a show at the Management News Australian Weeds Conference ISSN 1328-2425 Article by Kate Blood © State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, 2006 Editorial Committee: Ugo Mantelli, DPI, David McLaren, DPI and Michael Rosier, DSE The Victorian Department of Some scientists had written material Article preparation: Centre for Environmental Primary Industries Weed Alert about these plants without ever seeing Management, University of Ballarat team put on an impressive show at the weed in the flesh. Executive Officer: Natalie Tostovrsnik, DPI the Australian Weeds Conference The Weed Alert display, sponsored Knoxfield (AWC) recently in Adelaide. Printer: Doran Printing. Braeside, Victoria by the ‘Tackling Weeds on Private Printed on 100% recycled paper Weed Alert team members made Land’ (TWOPL) initiative, showcased presentations at the conference the potential, new and emerging Under Control – Pest Plant and Animal News is a tri-annual publication of the Department which had over 400 weed scientists weeds the Victorian Government of Sustainability and Environment and the and practitioners from all over is focusing on. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia and overseas. Australia. It is distributed free of charge to The display was well photographed those working to control pest plants and The Weed Alert display booth was and appeared in a number of media animals. This includes Landcare and a highlight for many conference stories about the conference including Friends groups, local government, farmers, participants. For many, it was the an ABC TV news story in Adelaide catchment management and extension officers and pest management researchers first time they had seen and touched and ABC TV Landline. The issue was throughout Victoria. a number of Australia’s most serious covered on ABC Radio Adelaide Please feel free to circulate Under Control. potential, new and emerging weeds. during the conference. Under Control is available in a hard (paper) copy, by email or on the Internet at www. dpi.vic.gov.au/undercontrol If you would like to subscribe to UC or have your details altered please contact: Susan Curnow, DPI Ballarat Phone (03) 5336 6879 Facimilie: (03) 5336 6601 Email: [email protected] Enquires or feedback about the content of the newsletter should be directed to Natalie Tostovrsnik DPI Knoxfield Private Bag 15, Ferntree Gully Delivery Centre Victoria, 3156 Phone: (03) 9210 9234 Email: [email protected] Permission for the reproduction of articles in other publications is generally granted following DPI authorisation and ensuring that Under Control is acknowledged as the source. DSE and DPI are contributing participants in the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management Disclaimer The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the chemical products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind, or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other DPI’s Weed Alert team members Kate Blood, Michael Hansford and Neil Smith at the ‘Weed consequence, which may arise from you Alert’ display. Image by Tony Lovick relying on any information in this publication. Under Control No. 35 January 2007 Page 3 Serrated tussock – herbicide resistance Serrated tussock (Nassella Herbicide resistance trichotoma) is a declared Weed of In NSW, flupropanate is the herbicide National Significance that had been of choice in the control of serrated estimated to conservatively cost tussock, while in Victoria glyphosate Victoria $5 million per year in 1997. is the popular choice. Serrated tussock It has been described as causing a resistance to fluproponate was greater reduction in carrying capacity reported by nine land managers and than any other weed in Australia. In resistance to glyphosate was reported Victoria, serrated tussock has expanded by six land managers. All the Victorian its distribution from 4 ha in 1954 to flupropanate resistance reports were 30,000 ha in 1979 and to 130,000 ha from properties in the Diggers Rest, by 1998. Today, substantial areas of Sydenham and Bulla areas north of southeastern Australia remain at risk Serrated tussock is a serious environmental weed that costs Australian agriculture Melbourne. of invasion. more than $50 million annually There are limited control options Future action for managing serrated tussock Distribution and type of infestation A process has been put in place to in Australia. The only registered contact land managers that reported herbicides for control of serrated Across Australia, survey respondents cases of flupropanate resistance tussock in pastures are flupropanate, identified serrated tussock infestations through the survey. Similarly, case glyphosate, and 2,2-DPA. totaling approximately 102,047 ha, of reported glyphosate resistance Flupropanate is widely regarded comprising 48,747 ha on pasture, in serrated tussock will also as the most selective and effective 43,019 ha in native vegetation be investigated further. The herbicide for controlling this weed. and 10,281 ha on other areas (e.g. Victorian Department of Primary Of major concern however is the roadsides, cropping etc.). Of this Industries has been working in finding of flupropanate resistance in total 8,113 ha was in Victoria. collaboration with the Melton Shire a population of serrated tussock in Economic Impact Council to ensure that all serrated Victoria, which withstood up to four tussock on and surrounding the times the recommended application At the national level, the annual total property is controlled. Royal rate used to control this species. production losses were estimated at Melbourne Institute of Technology $662,820, or $13,000/year/survey University in collaboration with DPI To determine the extent of serrated respondent. For Victorian survey have commenced a PhD project tussock resistance to fluproponate respondents,