Australia’s peak grains research body will fund a number of free workshops for growers in the Esperance Port zone on testing weeds and herbicides.
With financial investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the zone’s Regional Cropping Solutions Network will host three half-day workshops focusing on the best management practices for the herbicide glyphosate.
Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group member Andrew Storrie has organised the events alongside Farm and General agronomist Andrew Heinrich and Synergy Consulting director Craig Brown.
Mr Storrie said resistance levels varied and testing would help growers determine which herbicides were most effectively on different parts of their farm.
“While soil testing is standard practice for most of the state’s growers, herbicide susceptibility testing is less common, despite also being very important in helping to boost crop productivity and profitability on-farm,” he said.
“Knowing which herbicides are effective in a particular paddock can help growers make informed weed management decisions and develop strategies to preserve herbicide options.”
Mr Storrie encouraged growers to send samples of weeds that survive herbicide applications for a ‘Quick Test’ to test the plants for herbicide susceptibility.
“The test takes four weeks to complete, meaning growers can take action this year to prevent seed set by any weeds confirmed as being herbicide resistant,” he said.
Mr Storrie said more summer rain in recent years across much of the state’s grainbelt had led to more herbicide use and, without integrated weed management plans, the risk of glyphosate resistance in a range of weed species had increased.
“There are 17 weed species resistant to glyphosate in Australia and this number is expected to increase – along with the incidence of paraquat resistance,” he said.
Mr Storrie said the workshops would also include advice on summer fallow management alternatives for key weeds, crop-topping alternatives to glyphosate and new technologies and pesticide residues in grain.
The workshops will run in Dunn Rock on July 23 from 10am to 2pm and in Condingup on July 24 from 9:30am to 1pm, followed by an open forum to allow growers to have their say on how grower levies should be invested.
The date and location of the third workshop is yet to be decided.
Credit: esperanceexpress.com.au
