Free workshops to help farmers manage invasive weeds
Natural Resources Northern and Yorke are holding a series of free workshops this month (March) aimed at helping farmers and landowners manage the spread of grassy weeds.
The workshops are part of the South Australian Government’s Pests Cost Us All program, which improves our agricultural productivity by helping farmers fight pest animals and plants.
The workshops at Napperby, Orroroo and Quorn are being jointly hosted with the Upper North Farming Systems Group and supported by the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Living Flinders Program.
Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Community Team Leader Kate Pearce said that the workshops will focus on practical ways to stop the spread of invasive perennial grasses.
“These workshops will arm farmers and land owners with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and manage these aggressive weeds, to limit the southern expansion of invasive grasses and improve integrated weed management across their properties and in the district,” Mrs Pearce said.
“Management of invasive grasses in grazing systems will be discussed, and why they must be controlled to maintain quality pastures in the Upper North.
“The workshops will also cover simple strategies to prevent the introduction of new weeds, along with hygiene protocols to limit spread and on-farm biosecurity.”
Emphasis will be placed on buffel grass, fountain grasses, innocent weed, African love grass and coolatai grass. Participants will learn control methods for a suite of annual grasses including silver grass, barley grass, brome, and annual rye grass in cropping systems.
Dates and locations as follows:
Tuesday 14 March Napperby: Napperby Tennis Club 12.30 - 4.30 pm
Wednesday 15 March Orroroo: Blacksmiths Chatter 9.30 am - 1.30 pm
Thursday 16 March Quorn: Quorn Bowls Club 9.30 am - 1.30 pm
These Pests Cost Us workshops are part of the Australian Government's Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy. For further information about the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, visit http://agwhitepaper.agriculture.gov.au.
For more information and to register for the workshops contact Kate Pearce on (08) 8658 1086/ 0429 362 002 or email Kate.Pearce@sa.gov.au.
