MMFS Manual

Tool 5.3 The 3D approach to weed management

Weeds are a major threat to pasture productivity, native vegetation and biodiversity. It is estimated that weeds cost the grazing industries $1.8 billion each year in lost revenue. The threat posed by weeds to biodiversity is ranked second only after land clearing.

Weed management needs to be planned using the 3D approach – Deliberation, Diversity and Diligence.

Deliberation – stocktake of weed problems and priorities

Ask yourself	Action	Result
What have I got?	Use Quickchecks (see chapter 5.4 signposts) to assess the desirable and weed species in the paddocks of most concern to you	Tailor your strategies and set your goals
Where are the weeds located on my farm?	On a farm map plot where your weed infestations are, which species are present and how dense they are at each location	Firm up your priority areas for weed management
Where did/are the weeds coming from?	Determine if the weed/s: Were already present Came in from a particular source such as stock feed or machinery contamination	Help you determine how to prevent future weed incursions
What are my goals for weed management?	Identify on your farm map: Clean areas: prevent new weed incursions Small or scattered infestations: eradicate the weeds Moderate to dense infestations: eradication may not be possible at first, so contain the infestation, and ensure it doesn’t spread further. Once contained, then start eradicating the plants Dense with ongoing sources of reinfestation: management of the infestation is an appropriate goal	Determine achievable goals for weed management in your priority areas Allocate the right amount of time and money to achieve each goal
What tactics are most appropriate to achieve my weed management goals?	Use the Weed CRC 5 tactic weed control matrix (Tool 5.4)	Choose the right tactic to achieve my weed management goals

On a sheep enterprise in the southern NSW tablelands, African lovegrass and serrated tussock are both significant problems. The long-term management of serrated tussock meant that it did not get away and the goal for serrated tussock on this property is eradication. However, not much was known about African lovegrass when it was first identified on this property. It is now such a problem that eradication is not a feasible goal at this point in time and the current goal is controlled management.

Diversity – management tactics to target weak points in weed life cycles

Ask yourself	Action	Result
What weed management tools do I have in the toolbox?	Use as many tactics as you can: Competitive perennial pastures and/or other vegetation Grazing management Biological control Herbicides Cultivation/avoiding cultivation (dependant on species present) Slashing Crop rotations Burning Fertiliser application Hay/Silage	Integrated weed management: adoption of a diverse range of weed control practices that reduce the reliance on herbicides
Which tools will help achieve my weed management goals?	AWI and MLA 3D Weed Management brochures on: Paterson’s curse Thistles Serrated tussock Chilean needle grass African lovegrass Silverleaf nightshade MLA Tips & Tools: Weed removers, pasture improvers – effective weed control Tool 5.4 - Weed control tactics in native vegetation Select a variety of tools that can work together to target your weeds, using the tactics you identified in Deliberation	Choose the right tools to achieve your vision for weed management in your grazing enterprise
When is the best time to carry out each option to target priority weeds?	Establish a calendar of activities to target the weeds throughout the year to: Apply herbicide at the right time Ensure groundcover is maintained at critical times to minimise weed germination	Do it on time, every time

Diligence – monitor progress then adjust your strategy accordingly

Ask yourself

Action

Result

Has my weed management been successful?

Monitor weed levels after key management activities, and on an annual basis to track changes in weed distribution and density

Proof that you are achieving your weed goals.

What can I do to improve my weed management?

In the short term:

Consider why a management tool wasn’t successful and adjust it to achieve success
Try a new management technique if the original technique wasn’t suitable

In the longer term, reassess your weed management strategy and goals based on the outcomes of your monitoring program

Re-adjust your strategy to:

Set new goals and priorities for weed management
Re-allocate your time and money to achieve existing and new weed management goals.

On a southern NSW tablelands sheep enterprise, diligence is a key factor in the management of serrated tussock. Once a year the entire property is checked for serrated tussock and any live plants are spot sprayed there and then. The sheep producer says this job is neither difficult nor expensive; you just have to be persistent and do it. To assist with this, every vehicle on the property has either a knapsack sprayer with flupropanate or a mattock to remove the weed immediately once it’s spotted. It is this vigilance which has enabled him to reduce his serrated tussock management time over fifteen years from three months per year to less than a week per year.

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Tool 5.3 The 3D approach to weed management