Facilitating adoption of integrated weed management strategies for Feathertop Rhodes grass in the Northern Region, Prg 1

Project Background

Feathertop Rhodes grass is a highly aggressive weed that, despite being a focus of several research efforts, is continuing to increase in incidence and severity in northern farming systems. The recent confirmation of resistance to glyphosate also highlights the need to manage the weed with an integrated systems approach. This proposal builds on work in DAQ00105, US00084, and NGA00004 that have investigated various strategies for managing feathertop Rhodes grass in the summer/winter cropping areas of the Northern Region.

To facilitate improved management of feathertop Rhodes grass in Queensland and northern NSW, a communication and extension campaign is required. The procurement will update the current feathertop Rhodes grass integrated weed management (IWM) publication for winter/summer cropping areas by incorporating recent research results and will be used as the focus of a targeted extension campaign.

In the winter cropping areas of southern NSW, research is required to develop a locally adapted feathertop Rhodes grass IWM plan for the prevailing farming system. This should be based on the existing IWM plan but will need to address:

1.differences in the value of residual herbicides (based on the presence of sandy, acidic, low OC soils, lower and winter dominant rainfall and crop choice) taking into account possible product registration opportunities

2.differences in the effectiveness of cultivation (based on soil type)

3.use of Site-Specific Weed Management

4.opportunities for management in the pasture phase (e.g. chemical options and with grazing as a first step in a double knock) and

5.the impact of livestock on both spread and/or control of the weed (e.g. livestock field preference and feathertop Rhodes grass regrowth).

Extension of this work to growers in southern NSW is a key component of this procurement.

Project Description

This investment consists of two interrelated procurements. The applicant may apply for one, or both the procurements (PROC-9176001 Program 2 and this one). Where only one of the procurements is applied for, applicants should demonstrate how they will link with the corresponding program.

This investment Program 1 will:

1.Update the IWM plan for feathertop Rhodes grass (originally released in 2014) and use targeted extension and communication strategies to facilitate adoption of it in northern NSW and Queensland.

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed program will cover the entire winter/summer cropping belt of northern NSW and Queensland.

Expected Outcome

By June 2024, the extent and impact of Feathertop Rhodes grass on grain yield in the Northern Region will be reduced through growers implementing integrated weed management strategies.

Expected Outputs

Output 1

By December 2019, an updated IWM strategy for Feathertop Rhodes grass available for growers and advisers in northern New South Wales and Queensland

Details:

Scope to be based on the DAF publication Integrated Weed Management of Feathertop Rhodes grass 2014 but should include new research where relevant

Output 2

By June 2021, an extension package to facilitate adoption of the IWM strategy for Feathertop Rhodes grass developed and delivered in northern NSW and Queensland

Details:

Extension package may include demonstrations sites, field walks and communication products.