Section 5 Case studies - Weeds Australia

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Rotational Grazing: Robert considers that it is important to graze pastures to maintain them. But it is equally important not to overgraze. He has implemented a rotational grazing system that allows desirable grasses to recover and ‘thicken up’. He uses set stock grazing only during specific periods, such as joining. He “locks up” some of the paddocks on the hilly country during the summer, utilising the feed that has come up in following winter. He allows the phalaris based pastures to be heavily grazed through spring to utilize the growing green feed while delaying seed set. He spot sprays or chips out all emerging serrated tussock plants in pastures used for rotational grazing. Results The strategies for pasture management and the use of rotational grazing have yielded pleasing results. Pastures are thicker, resulting in more groundcover for stock in the long-term and more competition for the serrated tussock. The future Robert notes that the most significant lessons learnt over the past few years have been to do with how to value the whole farming enterprise. Robert notes: “My financial focus has sharpened. I am deeply involved in valuing our losses (and gains)…and how to value change such as the impact of the sheep reduction due to acquisition; valuing the cost of poor preparation (late ripping for pines) and valuing standing forest trees.” Robert plans to continue maximising his grazing management and increasing his knowledge on serrated tussock management by attending further field days. He comments: “You need to spend money in the right year on the right things to make money”. However, he now believes it is time to consolidate and assess the full impact of his strategies to date. Robert is especially pleased with the results from his 10 ha trial site. When he rested the paddock and allowed it to go to seed, the phalaris-clover pasture competed effectively with emerging serrated tussock. Only large tussock plants survived which were controllable with spot spraying using glyphosate or chipping. Robert’s on-farm trials and results received second prize in a competition held by The Grassland Society of NSW. The western hills that were not aerially sprayed, have not been grazed with stock for five years to allow direct seeded native trees to establish. The native grasses have thrived during this time. Robert’s rotational grazing regime has been successful. Grasses have thickened up as expected, and emerging serrated tussock plants are being out-competed. The compulsory acquisition of his land by the Department of Defence caused delays in the ripping and mounding of areas targeted for pine planting, resulting in the loss of a significant number of seedlings and the planting of more than 10,000 new seedlings in the following year. The best of the planted trees are now more than two meters high and growing well. These older pines (planted 1994−1999) seem to be having the desired effect of shading out the serrated tussock with fewer tussock plants setting seed. The native seedlings planted by Greening <strong>Australia</strong> have suffered over five years of drought. However, those areas ripped and seeded using the hand seeder are showing a healthy growth of trees. The she-oaks and saltgrow eucalyptus are also growing well. 90
<strong>Case</strong> Study 2 Pasture management Summary Serrated tussock was gradually degrading pastures on the Alstons’ Victorian property. Various ad hoc attempts at control had failed in the past so the Alstons implemented a more strategic approach to the weed’s control, utilising approaches that ranged from herbicide use, cropping, fire and shelterbelts to reduce seed spread. Although they have achieved significant success, the Alstons know their control regime must continue in the long-term. The problem Tid and Sally Alston suspected there was a problem in the late 1980s when they first spotted the serrated tussock plants growing in a 16 ha section of their 400 ha property in Oaklands Junction, Victoria. “We tried to get the plant identified, but the person we asked misidentified it. By the time we found out what it really was the paddock was heavily infested.” The situation became worse in 1992 during a very dry year when there was low pasture competition. The tussock spread rapidly. They realised that to control the weed they needed to think strategically. The approach Traditionally, the Alstons’ primary enterprise was prime lambs with a head of 400−800 breeding ewes and 400 weaners, Merino/Border Leicester cross. To control the serrated tussock, the Key messages • A range of strategies for controlling serrated tussock is necessary. • Follow up and vigilance is necessary when controlling serrated tussock. Alstons began to rely more heavily on cropping as well as spraying herbicides, burning and shelterbelt plantings. They are precise about timing activities, and mapping and monitoring results. What has been done Cropping: The Alstons used glyphosate to kill all vegetation in the originally infested paddock. They then spread pig manure to increase the soil’s fertility and planted a series of crops— barley, oats and summer rape—before returning it to a phalaris based pasture. They decided to turn the flat, arable paddocks on their land, about 160 ha, to continuous cropping, working with a share farmer to direct drill a variety of cereal and oil crops: wheat, canola and triticale. The Alstons vigilantly removed all serrated tussock from unsown edges and fence lines of the cropped paddocks. Charles Grech Use of cropping in flat arable paddocks has been a very successful serrated tussock management tool. Care must be taken to control serrated tussock along fence lines and unsown edges. 91
Page 1 and 2: Section 5 Case studies 1. Changing
Page 3: Hand pulling: All farm vehicles are
Page 7 and 8: Case Study 3 Controlling serrated t
Page 9 and 10: Case Study 4 Tackling serrated tuss
Page 11 and 12: Tea tree being used to out-compete
Page 13 and 14: Urban serrated tussock infestations
Page 15 and 16: Case Study 6 Cooperative approach b
Page 17 and 18: The result According to Council, as
Page 19 and 20: Results of careful glyphosate spot
Page 21 and 22: The result No serrated tussock plan
Page 23 and 24: Case Study 10 Serrated tussock stra

Section 5 Case studies - Weeds Australia

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