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24 October 2007
Weed management field day held in Wagga
The Graham Centre's inaugural Annual Field Day was held on Thursday the 18th October and the theme was Weed Management. Due to the drought, the event became a virtual field and was held at the NSW DPI Conference Room. Despite being held indoors, this did not deter a few flies and over 65 farmers, agronomists, consultants, noxious weed officers and others interested in weeds and their management.
Twelve presenters covered a broad range of issues, starting with a focus on weeds in cropping systems, including:
- the factors that cause herbicide resistance (Dr Hanwen Wu);
- the current levels of resistance in the region (Mr John Broster);
- integrated weed management to retard the spread of resistance, including the use of non-chemical control options such as smother crops, and green manures and cutting for silage or hay (Mr Eric Koetz);
- the economic importance of preventing weed seed-set and seedbank replenishment (Dr Randall Jones);
- the pros and cons of GM canola for resistance management (Dr Rex Stanton);
- issues influencing the damage caused to crops from herbicides (Mr Peter Lockley); and
- a farmer’s perspective on integrated weed management (Mr Murray Scholz – Nuffield Scholar).
The second part of the day discussed the invasiveness and spread of garden (and other) species:
- Patterson’s Curse (Prof Richard Groves);
- the importance of recognising potentially invasive species (Ms Annette Beer);
- opportunities for biological control, especially in pastures and conservation areas (Mr Barry Sampson);
- new research examining potential control of silverleaf nightshade and prairie ground cherry, both deep-rooted summer weeds, using herbicides, competitive pastures, biocontrol and allelopathy (Dr Rex Stanton); and
- the legislative requirements of landholders to manage the various categories of noxious weeds (Dr Stephen Johnson).
Media Contact: Helen Burns, Development Officer, tel 02 6938 1947.