Section 5 Case studies - Weeds Australia

Case Study 1
Changing land-use manages
serrated tussock problem
Summary
Robert Hyles has thrown almost every technique
possible at controlling serrated tussock on his
farm on the southern highlands of NSW. As a
result, he has not only reduced the tussock
problem, but also broadened his farming
enterprise.
The problem
“Woodlands”, situated in the southern highlands,
and straddling the NSW−ACT border, is a fifth
generation merino sheep (ewes and wethers)
grazing enterprise. The annual rainfall averages
635 mm, though drought has been a factor for
the past seven years.
Like many properties in the region, it had
been increasingly invaded by serrated tussock
for over forty years. Initially the tussock was
predominantly on the eastern aspect of the
property’s hilly country—probably established
from seed borne on prevailing westerly winds.
This less fertile, hilly country was traditionally
where the wethers grazed. Their grazing created
bare patches on the ground, which provided
ideal conditions for the establishment of
serrated tussock. Gradually the weed spread and
thickened.
In the 1980s, the Hyles were ordered by the
local council to aerial spray approximately 50
ha of the hills with flupropanate at 2 L/ha to
control serrated tussock. According to Robert,
the exercise was a “disaster”. It certainly killed
the serrated tussock but it also decimated the
native grasses and serrated tussock quickly reestablished
itself. Native grasses that regrew
were quickly selectively grazed out by the sheep.
The problem became worse than ever.
Robert implemented a range of strategies from
spraying to fencing to grazing management
and plantations, but initially he did not have a
strategy aimed at longer-term control.
In 1999, circumstances arose which motivated
him to take a more planned approach to serrated
tussock control. He noted that: “The first thing is
to admit we have a problem.”
While implementing his strategy for serrated
tussock control, Robert was faced with a further
problem. In 2004, the Department of Defence
compulsorily acquired 200 ha of his property,
Key messages
• Creatively implementing serrated
tussock control techniques can mean
that some of the techniques are a
means for more diversified farm
income.
• Active pasture management can mean
that serrated tussock is out-competed
by desirable grasses.
• There can be significant advantages in
considering serrated tussock control
as part of the whole farm enterprise.
reducing its size to 1414 ha freehold and 400 ha
leasehold. The acquisition process caused delays
in the implementation of some of Robert’s plans
for serrated tussock control.
The approach
Robert realised early that no one approach
would be successful to effectively control
serrated tussock. He employs a range of
control methods, some conventional and some
more innovative. Robert has also sought, and
gained, significant assistance from various
programs and initiatives to implement his
control approaches, especially once he was
selected to become a participant in a pioneer
project for farmers to sell environment
services (the ESS scheme).
What has been done
Spraying: Robert has various large and smaller
spray units for herbicide application to serrated
tussock. He has adapted a quick spray unit to
enable it to be simultaneously used by one to ten
sprayers. He has also adapted spray units to fit
on motorbikes usually used for mustering sheep.
The rider can simply spray patches of tussock
while engaged in mustering. He employs family,
contractors, Green Corp teams and others to
help with large scale serrated tussock spraying
exercises.
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