The wart that affects everybody

Whether you’re new to land management, a long time farmer or a public land manager, no one is immune to the threat of ragwort. Having persisted in high rainfall areas of Victoria since the late 1800’s, ragwort is unequivocally a tough plant to beat. One plant may produce up to 250,000 seeds each year which can then last in the soil for over 10 years. With this in mind, is it worth the fight to control ragwort? The answer is absolutely.

Aside from the productivity impacts of ragwort, (poisons stock, reduces milk, meat and wool production etc.) the social impacts born from a lack of control are equally as significant. Good neighbours do not share ragwort seeds with other landholders. When they do, the social impact is significant. The social impacts of invasive species like ragwort are difficult to quantify yet it is clear that they are considerable. The financial consequences of managing weeds causes stress for farm businesses.  Conflict between neighbours and between sections of the community with differing attitudes to weed control can also be emotionally taxing. 

Therefore by controlling ragwort you, (as a landholder) are not only meeting your legal requirements (CaLP Act 1994) but you will be keeping your neighbours and the local farming community happy.  To learn more about ragwort and discover what local programs are available to assist with its control, come along to a free Ragwort Forum on the 11^th of March 2104 from 10am until 1pm at the Dakers Centre, Leongatha.

Share your experiences, view a range of displays and access weed control advice. Morning tea and lunch provided. For more information or to RSVP for catering purposes, contact Kate Williams at the South Gippsland Landcare Network on Tel: 5662 5759 Mob: 0428 317 928 or Email: katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au.

This forum is part of the ‘Waging War on Invasive Plants through Landcare Network Collaboration’ project funded by the State Government through the Victorian Landcare Grants administered by the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Even blackberries feel the heat...

 

With significant rainfall and cooler temperatures in late spring/early summer, conditions were optimum for blackberry germination and growth.  From September to November young canes emerged from the crown or base of the blackberry bush and grew rapidly at a rate of between 5-8 cm per day.

 

By the end of November and into December plants were in full flower and in early January bushes were full of berries (fruit). As a general rule, in mid-late December the level of control using herbicides is effective as plants are yet to set fruit (seed), they are actively growing and are less likely to be heat stressed than in mid-summer. However its worth noting that if conditions are suitable, herbicide can be applied from flowering right through to fruiting – usually December, January, February and March.

 

In hot, dry periods currently being experienced across South East Australia hold off spraying plants with herbicide if they are showing signs of moisture stress i.e. wilting. Hot conditions during the day (i.e. over 30 °C) can temporarily stress plants and limit uptake or absorption of herbicides. During hot conditions, spray in the morning before 11am or wait until weather conditions are milder.