Weed management and prevention continues to be a major priority and cost for most Queensland broadacre enterprises.
This is because unmanaged weed biosecurity could have disastrous impacts to producers’ businesses through lost production, toxicity issues and weeds invading farming and natural systems.
Recent changes to the Australian and Queensland Government biosecurity legislation has meant that more emphasis is placed on landholders to be responsible for preventing and managing weeds on their land than ever before.
However, this is becoming increasingly difficult for land owners due to issues such as globalisation, transport efficiencies and managing for co-existence of land uses.
That is why this week AgForce provided a submission to the Queensland Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of weed control programs.
The inquiry provides an opportunity for Queensland Ministers to consider what is working well on the ground and across all levels of government and where improvements could be made.
The inquiry was limited to three problematic weeds, prickly acacia, giant rats tail grass and fireweed.
The main issue with all three weeds is limiting weed spread into new areas and ensuring everyone complies to their best extent.
There are currently some great programs out there, such as the Good Neighbour Program, where weeds are controlled along property boundaries and up watercourses to minimise weed seed spread.
However, AgForce made three main points in the submission of what needs to improve in this space.
The first was the adherence to minimising weed seed movement in livestock, fodder, vehicles and equipment and better management of these introduced risks on farm.
The second was for adequate funding for development of new technologies and biocontrol as overall there has been a shrinkage in resources and expertise going into weed R&D.
AgForce believes that collaboration, regional champions and adaptive management are the way forward to gain best impact and return on investment for research dollars.
The third point that AgForce raised in the submission is the need for improved, updated and accessible best practice information on weed management.
Weed management and prevention will always be a major priority for Queensland broadacre producers, therefore AgForce will continue to lobby all levels of government for appropriate support to address these and other weeds.
