Section 2 Integrated weed management (IWM) - Weeds Australia

Serrated tussock and integratedweed managementSerrated tussock IWM aims to achieve longterm control by actively targeting the plant’svulnerable ecological features and by reducing itsability to continue to spread. The key principlesof IWM to keep in mind are:• early intervention• prevent establishment & spread• develop a plan utilising appropriatemanagement tactics.Serrated tussock plants are most vulnerable asyoung seedlings and preventing seed-set in adultplants stops the formation of tens of thousandsof seeds. Therefore the most effective techniqueswill target these features, for example,maintaining ground cover for competition andchipping prior to flowering.Basic principles to consider for the integratedmanagement of serrated tussock are:Seed bank management• Reduce the amount of seed going into theseed bank.• Minimise disturbance to the seed bank,which may reduce the germination rates ofserrated tussock seed.Target young serrated tussock seedlings• Seedlings are small, slow growing andvulnerable to competition.• Reduce seedling survival by minimising bareground cover and increasing the level ofdesirable vegetation.Prevent seed-set in adult tussock plants• Reduce the occurrence or severity of seedrain into your own and neighbouringproperties.• Reduce new seed being added to the seedbank.• Serrated tussock seed bank will be depletedover time.Prevent/reduce weed seed spread• Use prevention strategies such as meshfencing, shelterbelts and vehicle hygiene inmanaging serrated tussock.• Regularly monitor areas at high risk ofinvasion, such as fence lines.• Quickly eradicate new, small or outlyinginfestations.‘New seed, 10 years of weed’(Bathurst workshop).Actively increase ground cover and competition• Ensure there is always competition foryoung, vulnerable serrated tussockseedlings.• Prevent initial establishment of tussockpopulations. A good vigorous pasture orgrassland cover is less likely to be infestedby serrated tussock.Regularly monitor, follow up and reviewtreatments• Make an integrated weed management plan.Diligently implement the plan, emphasisingdiverse treatments that kill adult plants orstop them from setting seed.• Incorporate serrated tussock managementinto daily property activities.Factors critical for success• Begin when infestations are small andmanageable or during periods of drought.Letting it ‘get away’ will increase the timeand expense of getting serrated tussockback under control.• Rotationally graze and manage vegetationlevels accordingly—overgrazing and setstocking can leave bare patches of groundand provide room for tussock to re-emerge.• Requires a long term commitment. Thismeans any paddock where control has beenundertaken needs to be followed up everyyear after initial treatment.Target seedlings for control.When deciding which particular treatmentor combination of treatments to use, alwayschoose the treatment that will cause leastamount of damage to the desirable vegetationand the environment. More information on thecontrol and management of serrated tussock isoutlined in the following chapters.Michael Michelmore23

Herbicide resistanceWhat is herbicide resistance?Herbicide resistance is the ability of a plantto survive and reproduce following exposureto a dose of herbicide that would normally belethal. In a plant, resistance may occur naturallydue to selection or it may be induced throughtechniques such as genetic engineering.Resistance occurs in plants as a result of randomand infrequent mutations. Through selection,susceptible plants are killed while herbicideresistant plants survive to reproduce withoutthe competition from susceptible plants. If theherbicide treatment is repeated, resistant plantssuccessfully reproduce and become dominantin the population. The appearance of herbicideresistance in a plant population is an example ofrapid weed evolution.Serrated tussock resistance toflupropanateFlupropanate is a soil active herbicide that hasresidual activity and can prevent serrated tussockfrom regrowing for three to five years (Campbelland Vere 1995). It is classified as a Group Jherbicide that inhibits plant lipid synthesis andis regarded as a moderate risk herbicide forresistance (Croplife Australia 2007).Herbicides that have long soil residual andseason-long control of germinating weeds, likeflupropanate, characteristically increase selectionpressure and the likelihood of resistance (Figure5).There are now three separate confirmedinstances of serrated tussock populationsresistant to flupropanate in NSW and Victoria.The continued use of flupropanate over a 15–20year period is the most likely cause of theseresistant strains developing (McLaren et al.2008).Flupropanate – one application provides soil residualcontrol of germinating serrated tussock for 3–5 years.Serrated tussock reproduction andimplications for serrated tussockresistanceSerrated tussock reproduces by producing seedthat can travel long distance (see page 10).Research has shown that 85−90% of serratedtussock flowers don’t open at flowering. Insteadthey exchange pollen within the unopened flowerand produce a clone of the parent plant. Thismeans that a resistant plant will produce at least85−90% resistant seed.Research has also shown that pollen from aresistant serrated tussock plant can createresistant seeds in a wild type susceptibleserrated tussock plant, but at very low ratios(1:29). The good news is that only 10−15% ofserrated tussock seeds are open for pollination,resulting in smaller opportunities for crossfertilisation and production of resistant seeds.However, the prolific seeding capacities ofserrated tussock does make this possible andpollen induced resistance has been recorded inVictoria.How far can a serrated tussock pollen graintravel? At this stage it is not known; however,genetically marked pollen from the perennialgrass, brown top bent grass, has been recordedfertilising wild plants 21 km from its source.The long term implications of serrated tussockherbicide resistance are:• its increased dominance as a weed• increased costs for land managers• more herbicide usage• higher environmental pollution as aconsequence.It is now appropriate to undertake serratedtussock flupropanate resistance paddock surveysaround the properties identified, to determinethe extent of resistance and take appropriateremedial actions.There is also growing global concern regardingresistance to glyphosate. Luckily at this stagethere have been no reported instances ofglyphosate resistance in serrated tussock.Reduce the risk of herbicide resistanceby rotating chemicals with differentmodes of actions and use IWM.Figure 5: Herbicides that have long soil residualand season-long control of germinating weedscharacteristically increase selection pressure andthe likelihood of resistance.24

Ways to avoid herbicide resistance1. Most importantly—do not rely solely on theuse of chemicals for control.2. Use immediate acting or short residualherbicides whenever possible. Use longterm residual herbicides (like flupropanate)wisely and not continuously on the samefield.3. Integrate herbicide use with other weedcontrol strategies (practice IWM).4. Always apply herbicides according to labeldirections.5. Regularly rotate the herbicide typesused with different modes of action. Forexample, Group J (flupropanate) or Group M(glyphosate).6. Always monitor and follow up control onany re-growing serrated tussock plants.7. Check sprayed areas for resistant plants.If there are any plants that have not beenaffected by the herbicide application, alwaysinvestigate the reason why it happened.8. Practice good sanitation practices to reducemovement of weed seed.9. Do not let any serrated tussock plant setseed.Managing flupropanateresistanceIn 2007 a property near Armidale in the NewEngland Tablelands of NSW was identifiedas having a population of serrated tussockresistant to the herbicide, flupropanate. Priorto this, the property had relied heavily onbroadacre spray applications of flupropanatein their serrated tussock control program.The resistant serrated tussock currentlycovers about 20 ha of land and is the target ofa control program. The affected area has beencultivated and a cover crop of oats has beensown with pasture underneath.Spraying with flupropanate has beendisbanded and spot spraying program usingglyphosate is being used instead. Stricthygiene protocols are being employed toprevent serrated tussock seed leaving theproperty from stock, vehicles or machinery.While this option is time consuming and maycause some pasture damage, there is little elsethey can do. There is no short-term solutionand ongoing resources are required to controlthe population of resistant serrated tussock.James BrowningAt this stage it is too early to tell howsuccessful the cropping phase will be;however, previous pasture renovation theyhave undertaken on the property has workedwell with the property now at a spot sprayprogramme that is progressively reducinglevel.Population of serrated tussock resistant to flupropanate.Area where flupropanate resistant tussock has beencultivated and sown to oats.James BrowningThe same property after cropping and pasturerenovations.25

Follow upOnce one serrated tussock plant is killed, thereare many seeds in the seed bank waiting togerminate and grow in its place. It is not possibleto treat an area once and then forget about it.For serious serrated tussock control, follow upwill be an integral part of the weed managementplan.Where control has been unsuccessful or serratedtussock is beginning to re-emerge, furthercontrol will be required. The type of controlrequired for follow up will depend upon thesituation and the density of serrated tussock.After any treatment, re-establishment of serratedtussock may occur as a result of:Inappropriate use of treatments• Herbicide applied at the wrong time of year,at the wrong rates or using equipment thathas not been calibrated correctly.• Many plants are missed or treatments areineffectively applied.• Serrated tussock population is resistant toflupropanate.• Slashing at inappropriate times of the year.For example, when in flower or seeding,may increase the spread of tussock.• Direct drilling crops and pasture withoutthorough preparation of the seed bed,such as using glyphosate or correcting soilfertility and pH.• Using inappropriate control methods for thesituation.No competition• The cover of desirable vegetation is low,with large areas of bare ground.• There is a large seed bank in the soil.• Chipping has created large bare areas thathas not had seed and fertiliser added.• Removal of vegetation and/or trees.• The control method previously used causeddamage to existing desirable vegetation—killing existing perennial grasses andremoving competition for serrated tussockseedlings.Climate• Environmental conditions such as droughtmay act as a contributing factor tounsuccessful control.• Insufficient rainfall to promote the growthand development of an improved pasture.• The land is naturally unproductive, havinglow rainfall or poor soil.No follow up• Failure to regularly follow up controlmeasures and address the infestation at theseedling stage.Preventing seed spread• There is a large population of serratedtussock up-wind.• Failure to use correct hygiene measures forequipment and stock can spread seeds.Limited knowledge• Misidentification or late identificationof serrated tussock—leading to latemanagement.• Absenteeism on commercial land where ithas been subdivided and neglected.Luke PopeOver-spray of herbicide can leave areas of bare ground.‘Failure to follow up is failureto farm for the future’(Cooma workshop).‘Follow up, follow up, follow up’(Goulburn workshop).‘If you don’t follow up, then you arewasting your money’(Bathurst workshop).26

The need for broadercommunity and/orcatchment planningWorking together in your region is essentialfor the successful management of serratedtussock. Due to the tussock’s unique feature ofproducing tens of thousands of small, viable,wind dispersed seeds; there is always the riskthat seed can be blown in from a neighbouringproperty. A way of managing this risk is towork with your neighbours and community tocoordinate serrated tussock control in your area.This can mean talking to and raising awarenessof the need to coordinate the control of serratedtussock with your local Landcare coordinatoror Landcare group, the catchment managementauthority, local council, and Department ofPrimary Industries in your region.Suggestions for starting local communitymanagement groups are at the end of thischapter.’No landowner on their owncan achieve results’(Canberra workshop).Byron SteinA coordinated planned approach can make a difference.27

Step 1: Assess the siteA site assessment is essential to know whatyou are dealing with and the extent and densityof serrated tussock (and other weeds) on yourproperty. Many tasks in the site assessmentmay be easier if you can get assistance fromappropriate experts, such as private consultants,district agronomists, Landcare coordinators,government agency or catchment managementauthority staff.An essential skill in making a site assessmentis being able to correctly identify serratedtussock, from other similar grasses, throughdifferent stages of its lifecycle and as it changesthrough the seasons. Section 1 provides basicinformation on identification, but this may needto be reinforced with hands on experience,perhaps with an extension professional, asgrasses can be extremely difficult to identify.Mapping weed infestationsMapping is a tool that can help you to plan aheadand to communicate your weed control activitiesand their progress with other interested parties,such as staff, family, contractors, neighbours orNoxious Weed Authorities. It is also, importantly,a means to review progress, measure successand adapt your activities to changing conditions.A large-scale topographic map or an aerialphotograph is a useful base map for recordingweed infestations and other features that willimpact on weed management. A weed mapdoes not need to be elaborate, it can be simpleand hand-drawn, but importantly it needs to beclearly labelled so that it can be adapted fromyear to year.When mapping serrated tussock infestationsrecord information such as:• property boundaries, paddocks, naturalfeatures and improvements• all vegetation, both beneficial pasturespecies and weeds, present in the paddock.Get to know what plants are in the paddock• different vegetation types and land classeswithin the property, for example, improvedpasture grazing land, non-arable steep rockyslopes or native pasture for grazing• the location, size and density of the serratedtussock infestations• consider documenting risks or issues, suchas accessibility and assets of agricultural,environmental and cultural value.Do you need to map serratedtussock or improve existing maps?A Field Manual for Surveying and MappingNationally Significant Weeds was publishedby the Australian government (McNaughtet al 2006) to improve the consistency ofdata collected on a national scale. Thereare a minimum of 13 core attributes,including date, place, location and density.The manual explains data collection indetail and guidelines have been preparedto assist communities and land holdersto map weeds and develop local weedmanagement plans. For a copy of themanual visit the Weeds Australia website:www.weeds.org.au/mapping.htm or phone1800 020 157.Serrated tussock control is a longprocess and will not happen in theshort-term.Allocate a reasonable timeframe forthe control program.The information obtained from the map will thenallow you to:• accurately target and prioritise weed controlactivities• locate areas at high risk of invasion such asfence lines, gullies, roadsides, riverbanks,vehicle tracks and clean-down areas• budget costs and time required toimplement control techniques• monitor how well control methods areworking.29

Keeping a photographic recordTaking a photo is an excellent way to keep arecord and can be used for annual monitoring.This is best done by clearly marking a ‘photopoint’. For example, a picket or tin lid fixedsecurely into the ground, and then mark theposition on your map. Remember to always facethe same direction when taking photos.Mapping is important for planningcontrol strategies and enables youto specifically target ‘hot spots’ oftussock(Canberra workshop).Take photos at different times of the year; beforeand after control treatments, and continue todo this on a yearly basis. This tool assists withmonitoring as it gives a visual representationof what is happening in the paddock and if anychange has occurred as a result of control.A number of ‘photo points’ can be madethroughout a property.Estimate densityEstimating the density of serrated tussockinfestations is important to help chooseappropriate control methods and to prioritiseareas for treatment. Serrated tussock is likely tooccur as ‘patches’ within a paddock or landscapeand it may be difficult to determine an overalldensity rating.Also look at the ratio of adult tussocks tojuvenile plants or seedlings and whether thereis evidence of mature seed heads. This will helpprovide information on the age of the infestationand whether it is well established or a relativelyrecent incursion—which in turn helps identify thebest mix of control measures.Visual assessment of densityVisual assessment is a simple way to determineweed density. It is quick and easy and usefulfor smaller sites and most species, but can besubjective. Figure 7 may help determine thepercentage cover of serrated tussock. Note thatcover can appear as scattered plants throughouta paddock or as a clump. A cover of 50% canappear very dense.The density of the infestation will help determinewhich management techniques to use.• A density of less than 10% ground cover isconsidered a light, scattered infestation.• Density of 10–30% ground cover is amedium level infestation.• Density of greater than 30% ground cover isconsidered a high level infestation.30

ScatteredLocalised denseCover value5%Light and scatteredManually removeindividual plants10%20%Medium densitySpot treatindividual plants30%40%Heavy density50%Consider usingbroadacre treatmentsFigure 7: A guide to visually estimate serrated tussock as a percentage of ground cover.(Source: Lane, D, Jugovic, J, Murphy, G. and Backholer, J. (1988) Pest Management Information System Manual. LandProtection Division, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Victoria)31

Step 2: Set your objectivesObjectives are statements of the intendedoutcome you want to achieve over a certain timeframe and can be measured. They may have ashort, medium or long-term time line and aredesigned to work together in an integrated plan.It may be useful to include a realistic number ofshort-term goals that can be practically achieved,to give a sense of accomplishment. Too manylong-term complex objectives can sometimeslead to exhaustion and disillusionment.Objectives can be applied at any scale, fromone paddock within a property to a whole farm,region or landscape. Multiple objectives may berequired if the situation is complex.Objectives set the direction you wish to move inand will help guide your decisions on serratedtussock control strategies and drive your ongroundactivities.Having a positive attitude and settingpriorities to control tussock is crucial.Examples of some objectives are:• Short-term – stop serrated tussock fromgoing to seed: to reduce the seed levelsin the soil seed bank. Work together withneighbours to form a district plan to tacklethe serrated tussock problem.• Medium-term – decrease the level of bareground and increase the level of desirablepasture species: to minimise serratedtussock invasion and to support livestockproduction.• Long-term – restore steep inaccessible areasto native vegetation: remove the ‘motherlode’so land is no longer a seed source intoproductive land or neighbouring properties.‘Never pass a tussock without action.’Be proactive in your management oftussock (Goulburn workshop).‘Don’t bite off more than you canmanage.’ Maximise the resourcesand land capacity you have availableand be realistic with what isachievable (Goulburn workshop).Step 3: Develop and implement the action planDeveloping an action plan is the critical stepwhich brings together your objectives, thephysical environment and suitable controltechniques. It is a complex process to drawthese strands together and develop an actionplan for effective long-term serrated tussockcontrol. Seek assistance from professionals orothers who’ve been through this process—someextra help may be all that is needed to get thisprocess moving.As you develop your action plan it can be usefulto move through different scales of informationor viewpoints—from the plant, the paddock, agroup of paddocks, the whole farm, the subcatchmentand region or catchment. Somecontrol techniques or preventive measures maybe more appropriate at the whole farm scale,rather than the paddock. For example, providingprotection for the whole enterprise, not just thepaddock.Look for synergies and multipurpose controlactivities, where one action can have severalfunctions. For example, shelterbelt tree plantingcan provide a wind shelter for grazing animals,habitat for native animals, soil protection, as wellas reduce serrated tussock seed being carried inon the wind.When developing the action plan it is importantto:1. Work to integrate serrated tussock activitiesinto your everyday farm management—takea mattock and a small spray pack out withyou when conducting regular propertyinspections.2. Mark key serrated tussock activities on yourfarm calendar.3. Get to know the lifecycle of serratedtussock and desirable pasture species. Thiswill determine when activities need to beconducted and will help when planningthe control calendar. Take note of whenflowering and seed development occurs.Sometimes it can be difficult to knowwhere to start.32

Prioritising areas for serrated tussockcontrolThe key principles to consider when identifyingareas or actions for serrated tussock control are:Prevention: where no serrated tussock exists,prevent it from entering the land. Prioritisehygiene practices and maintain a healthy groundcover of vegetation.Eradication: where early stage invasion or smallisolated infestations exist, high priority shouldbe given to eradication.Reduction or containment: where serratedtussock is established and/or widespread, it maybe unrealistic to expect to immediately eradicatethe weed. In these situations it will be beneficialto limit the impact of serrated tussock, byprogressively decreasing the infestation size andto keep it from spreading further. All efforts needto comply with local legal requirements.‘Control light infestations, contain theheavy’ (Bathurst workshop).Focus tussock control on the mostproductive areas, to ensure income. Afterthe productive land is controlled, drawyour attention on less productive areas.(Canberra workshop)Consider high priority areas as follows:1. New, small or outlying infestationsshould be eradicated first to stop a seedbank from developing and reduce thelikelihood of a large infestation developing.2. Areas with high risk of spread, suchas stockyards; humps between wheel ruts;hill tops, steep, rocky or inaccessible areas;fence lines; creek and riverbanks; androadsides should all be controlled as a highpriority, to limit further spread and reducethe chance of new infestations developing.3. High value assets where infestations areestablished, including the most productivepasture, the highest value native grasslandsand sites of community or culturalimportance.Don’t forget to include propertyhygiene practices in the weedmanagement plan.Determine control methodsIdentify the most appropriate combination ofmethods to control serrated tussock for yoursituation. Sections 3 and 4 should be able toassist you with this.Consider the effectiveness of each controlmethod at different times of the year and balancethis with the time and resources (equipment,labour and finances) available. Remember toinclude integrated weed management principlesinto your plan.Once objectives and a plan of action has beendecided:• allocate time specifically for serratedtussock control• allocate responsibility for actions• schedule activities on a calendar, includingall property activities such as shearing,drenching, marking—depending on thefarming enterprise• include some small tasks that can easilybe completed to generate a feeling ofaccomplishment• get started.An example of questions you can ask yourselfinclude:o What financial sources do I have to fund mymanagement?o What plant species are currently present?o What seed sources do I have available forre-vegetation? (Cooma workshop)Do your weed management plan onlineThe Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water has developed a Property PestManagement Plan (PPMP) kit. The kit contains guidelines on how to prepare a PPMP andpractical worksheets to help develop one for your property. The kit is available online atwww.nrw.qld.gov.au/oneplan.33

Step 4: Monitor outcomes and adjust your planMonitoring is an essential part of any goodmanagement program. During implementationof your program, frequently monitor and reviewyour program. Points to consider include: Havecontrol works been successful? What follow upaction is required? What will be required nextyear?• After implementing your strategy, returnto the site in 3–6 months time and takephotos. Assess before and after shotsand chip out any small plants (Bathurstworkshop).• Regularly check all sites where controlactivities have taken place, monitorpaddocks for current, arising and potentialinfestations.• Timing can have an influence over thevisibility of serrated tussock. Monitorlate summer when it is exposed to dryconditions and still green in appearance(Hobart workshop).• Record the success of control activities anduse this to review and adjust your plan.• Take notes on what works and what doesn’t.• Record progress in a site diary, on maps,information sheets, or with photo points.• Record changes in serrated tussockdensity or percentage cover.‘Take a little longer, take a differentroute.’ Take the time to assess areasof your property that you do notregularly travel to and be thoroughwith your management techniques(Goulburn workshop).‘If you keep at it, you can beat it.’Land managers need to activelyassess their tussock situation andnot tolerate it (Canberra workshop).Doing this will build a picture of what ishappening over time, enabling you to identifynew issues to plan for next year and, ifnecessary, demonstrate progress to your group,funding body or weed authority.Adjust your weed management plan based onthe information collected and conduct follow uptreatments where necessary.Source: Module 1: Developing and implementing aweed management plan in: CRC for Australian WeedManagement (2004). Introductory weed managementmanual. Department of the Environment and Heritage,Canberra.34

Working togetherSocial issuesSerrated tussock can affect people andcommunities in rural, semi-rural and urbansettings. Due to the diverse range of areasit occurs, and because it spreads easilyacross property boundaries, the issues facingcommunities with serrated tussock are complexand varied.Such issues may include:• Infestations seem overwhelming and controlmay not be conducted due to the perceptionit is too difficult.• Not everyone is aware of theirresponsibilities relating to serrated tussockcontrol.• Continual seed rain from nearbyuncontrolled infestations.• Prior to purchasing new land, purchasersmay not be aware of the serrated tussockhistory.• Landowners may not fully understand theconsequences of not managing serratedtussock or may not have the knowledge orequipment to properly control it.• Some non-resident land holders maynot appear to be managing their weedproblems.• Some landowners have difficulty inidentifying serrated tussock from nativetussock and grasses, leading to latemanagement; or to inappropriate control ofvaluable native grasses.• Where development is planned in urbanareas, a perception exists that little controloccurs.• People too ill or elderly to effectively controlserrated tussock may have heavily infestedproperties.• Weeds are not always considered a mainpriority by some property owners and maylack motivation to spend money controllingthem.To address the problems associated withserrated tussock, a coordinated and communitybasedapproach is required. Serrated tussock iseveryone’s problem and unless tackled together,it will be difficult to successfully manage into thefuture.‘Be honest with yourself.’ If youaim to eradicate tussock on yourproperty you need to have realisticgoals and time frames to keep youon track (Geelong workshop).‘Learn to live with serrated tussock.’Set goals to keep you motivated andthink on a long-term basis aboutwhat you would like to achieve.Be committed in the long-term tocontrol tussock (Cooma workshop).Develop clear short-term and longtermobjectives for your situation. Astrategy should be adaptable to allseasons and multiple situations(Attwood workshop).35

A community basedapproach to managingserrated tussockCommunity groups can take on many differentforms and are not necessarily confined toestablished, government-funded bodies. Theymay be a social group of neighbours that giveeach other a helping hand, a group of peoplewith similar interests or circumstances, aLandcare group or even a larger group madeof individuals in surrounding areas. It doesn’tmatter what the group is called, as long thepeople in the group share a common purpose.All it may take for a community to start workingtogether is one land holder recognising thattheir serrated tussock situation may be a biggerproblem than they can handle on their own, andrealising that they need to work with others intheir local area to have success in controlling it.DPI VictoriaCommunity rehabilitation project on serrated tussock infesting steep land.DPI Victoria36

Getting startedIf wanting to start a serrated tussock group, orfind out if something already exists in an area,there are many people that can assist. Someinclude:• government agency staff, includingLandcare coordinators and regional weedcoordinators• community group representatives, includingcatchment management or natural resourcemanagement authority representatives• council weed officers• land holders already in an active group.Contact information for different organisationscan be found on page 114.To take the next step towards starting or beinginvolved in a community group devoted toserrated tussock control and management, somesuggestions on how to start are:• ask neighbours what they are doing aboutserrated tussock• attend local field days, workshops or farmwalks• have a barbeque and invite neighbours anda specialist to speak• visit other community groups who areworking on serrated tussock• seek out someone who has had somesuccess in their fight against serratedtussock and ask them for advice and ideas.While there is a need for communities withserrated tussock to become actively involved incontrol, it is just as important for communitiesadjacent to serrated tussock infestations to worktogether to prevent invasion. Every communitywith serrated tussock should have a plannedcoordinated approach.Case study 6 describes how acommunity has worked together tomanage serrated tussock.A community based approachto managing serrated tussockThe following are some ideas that groupsengaged in serrated tussock have suggested—this information comes from a series ofworkshops held in south-east Australia and othersources.• Work together as a team with an aim toeradicate serrated tussock over the longterm.Work together to reduce the likelihoodof spread and invasion from adjoining landby undertaking preventative measuresacross a region. Provide support to all othergroup members.• Encourage new people to the area tobecome members.• Gather relevant information on serratedtussock such as identification, management,control, regulations, and planning.• Undertake group training and education,such as:− identification of serrated tussock− calibration of equipment or a farmchemicals course− property planning− organise field days or demonstrationsites.• Be proactive in regular monitoring andfollow up programs across your region.• Organise coordinated serrated tussockcontrol programs. For example, bulkpurchase of herbicide or coordinated aerialspraying.• Build relationships with public landmanagers who own adjoining lands. Letthem know what standards are expectedin their serrated tussock management andwhich areas of public land are of mostconcern to you or your group.• Adopt a regional ‘mother lode’—a hard tomanage area or seed source—and worktogether on this area.• Find out if there is any funding or volunteerhelp available to your region for controllingserrated tussock. Ask your Landcarecoordinator how to better manage publicliability, occupational health and safety orinsurance issues involved with volunteersworking on your land—they effectivelybecome employees.• Consider how your group couldbe supported by external fundingopportunities. It may be possible to receivesome natural resource management orenvironmental funding by focusing projectson biodiversity conservation, sustainableuse of natural resources, and communitycapacity building.37

Field day focussed on serrated tussock in the Monaro regionof NSW.DPI VictoriaDon ClintonRoadside signage can help raise the awareness of a weed issue.‘There is no shame in having it (serrated tussock); the shame is not doing anythingabout it’ (Geelong workshop).Mutually discuss and assist neighbours with serrated tussock (Hobart workshop).Ownership of the tussock infestations is an issue. ‘It’s easy to blame someone else butit’s a big cop out!!‘ (Cooma workshop).Enjoy a beer with your neighbour to break the ice and talk to them about weedmanagement (Hobart workshop).38