OVER the last eight months, there has been a wealth of collaboration and networks working on improving management options for the dreaded Giant Rats Tail Grass (GRT).
Last week, this culminated in Biosecurity Queensland receiving sufficient pledges for cash in-kind from affected organisations and individuals to submit a biocontrol proposal for GRT through the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to lever 1:2 funding from Australian Government “Rural Research and Development for Profit” grant program.
This biocontrol proposal involves working on a Stem Gall Wasp from Africa and looking at specificity of other diseases, such as the Crown Rot Fungus, that may occur on closely-related, native Sporobolus grasses in Australia.
GRT and Mother of Millions are two of several weeds being considered by RIRDC as a national weed biocontrol proposal, competing for a slice of the $100 million funding available from extending the Rural R&D for Profit program outlined in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
Recent collaboration by AgForce, MLA, Biosecurity Queensland, Local Government and many others has also developed a network to progress integrated management options for GRT.
Management of GRT affects many land uses including the grazing industry, resource sector, peri-urban, transport and utility corridors, state managed land, fodder merchants, machinery movement and many more.
Future work on a GRT toolbox of integrated management options requires working together across these partnerships and using new community and catchment approaches.
These established cross-jurisdictional networks will be essential for developing a GRT integrated control R&D project partnership proposal in early 2016. - NEVILLE GALLOWAY, AgForce South East President
