Weed Detection and Control on Small Farms - University of New ...

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Introduction <strong>Weed</strong>s constitute a significant cost to Australian agriculture each year, both in terms of control <strong>and</strong> lost productivity. However, weeds also cause problems for the owners of small ‘hobby’ or lifestyle farms. Apart from the legal obligation to control certain weeds, extensive weed outbreaks on small farms may: • impact on biodiversity <strong>and</strong> human health; • spread to neighbouring l<strong>and</strong>, including production farms, which in turn may strain community relationships; • cut significantly into niche-farming profits; • detract from time better spent on other activities; • make it more difficult to restore natural habitats on your l<strong>and</strong>; • detract from the natural beauty of your l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> reduce its value; • increase farm costs; • be toxic or harmful to livestock <strong>and</strong> pets; • harbour feral animals such as rabbits <strong>and</strong> foxes; <strong>and</strong> • make it difficult to access certain areas of your farm. The primary emphasis of this booklet is on the importance of detecting <strong>and</strong> controlling weeds on your l<strong>and</strong> before they have a chance to spread. It is also important to seek advice <strong>and</strong> assistance from your local weeds officer, <strong>and</strong>, when necessary, to work with your neighbours to control weeds. In the longer term, effective <strong>and</strong> diligent weed control will make managing your farm easier <strong>and</strong> less timeconsuming, <strong>and</strong> will allow you to focus on the enjoyable aspects of living in rural Australia. In the following pages we discuss the significance of weeds to small farms in Australia, <strong>and</strong> summarise best practice weed detection <strong>and</strong> control methods most appropriate to small farm owners. Much of this information is based on a 2008 national survey of weed officers <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>holders. 2
It is important to underst<strong>and</strong> the ‘principles’ of weed detection <strong>and</strong> control: what constitutes a weed, how weeds spread, where <strong>and</strong> when to look for weeds on your l<strong>and</strong>, how to detect weeds <strong>and</strong> identify unknown species, <strong>and</strong> the best methods to control weed outbreaks quickly. Considerable information, assistance <strong>and</strong> resources are available to help l<strong>and</strong>holders control weeds on their properties. For small farm owners, however, external assistance can be expensive, difficult to access, or more appropriate to large-scale production agriculture. Therefore, towards the end of this booklet, options for small farm owners seeking assistance with weed control are discussed. You will also find a list of contact details for relevant authorities in your State or Territory, <strong>and</strong> a list of useful references (weed identification booklets, brochures <strong>and</strong> websites). 3
Page 1 and 2: Weed Detec
Page 3: Contents Introduction..............
Page 7 and 8: How do weeds spread? There are many
Page 9 and 10: Why is it important to control weed
Page 11 and 12: When should I look for weeds? <stro
Page 13 and 14: How do I identify an unknown weed o
Page 15 and 16: What should I do when I find a new
Page 17 and 18: controlling in, and</strong
Page 19 and 20: Mulching Mulching with either a syn
Page 21 and 22: How do I control large-scale weed o
Page 23 and 24: Chemical certification or accredita
Page 25 and 26: Financial assistance Depending on t
Page 27 and 28: References and fur
Page 29 and 30: Crop Weeds, by Wil
Page 31 and 32: Species Location (e.g. paddock) How

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