increase font size
Check WEED infestations on farms you are importing stock or feed from or risk bringing potentially costly problems with them.
That’s the message from Agresearch scientist Graeme Bourdot following on-farm finds of giant buttercup in Golden Bay resistant to both herbicide groups registered for its control. The weed, already present in six of New Zealand’s 17 dairy regions, and climatically suited to grow nationwide, can cause substantial production losses.
Bourdot and colleagues calculate the impact on the 100ha Golden Bay farm’s bottom line to be $100,000.
“Losses are proportionate to the ground cover of the buttercup plus 25%. It’s more than just the area the buttercup occupies because the cows don’t graze up close to it because the smell of it repels them.”
Widespread resistance to phenoxy mode-of-action herbicides such as MCPA and MCPB was found in giant buttercup in the early 2000s, leaving ALS-inhibitor flumetsulem as the only herbicide option in such cases. Now, repeated use of that mode of action has seen the giant buttercup population on at least one farm develop resistance such that even a dose of five times the label rate only kills 90% of seedlings.
“We don’t know how widespread geographically the resistance to flumetsulam is, but where it’s been used repeatedly there could be resistance now. Once-per-season [use] is all that’s required [to select for resistance].”
The weed, in New Zealand for at least a century, is a big problem in Taranaki and Golden Bay, and is creeping down the South Island West Coast. It’s also present but less widespread in Waikato, Horowhenua and Wairarapa.
“One simple thing you can do is if you are buying stock, don’t buy them from a farm that’s infested. Or if you do have to buy in stock from an infested farm keep them on a run-off area for a couple of days so any seed has passed through their gut and you can monitor that area for buttercup.”
Hay is also a possible means of import. Well made silage should be safe, as the heat should destroy the weed’s seeds, but research is needed to be sure of this, he adds.
“The seed is not windblown so the only way it is going to be moved is by farmers and farm produce from infested regions.”
Industry-wide, Bourdot calculates the weed is already costing millions in lost revenue, and should it spread to all 17 dairying regions national dairy farm revenue loss caused could hit $328 million to $748 m per year.
Recent work by AgResearch technician Carolyn Lusk at Lincoln confirmed the flumetsulam resistance.
“The AgResearch work also gives a possible explanation for the persistence of the weed on dairy farms in Golden Bay and in other regions where farmers have relied on regular applications of this herbicide to control the buttercup,” says Boudot.
An innovative idea for transforming mechanically deboned meat (MDM) into a meat flake for seasoning has taken top honours in the Meat Industry Association’s (MIA) first-ever Dragon’s Den competition.
The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.
AgResearch scientists have collected the first known data showing behavioural developmental impacts on lambs whose mothers were treated with long-acting drugs for parasites.
Primary sector groups appear to be generally supportive of the Gene Technology Bill currently before parliamentarians.
There's been very little reaction to the government science reform announcement, with many saying the devil will be in the detail.
Farmers in the Australian state of New South Wales will soon be able to use virtual fencing and herding technology to boost farm productivity.
Hawke's Bay teenage entrepreneur Hugo Moffett is helping the rural community access cheaper school uniforms, all without leaving their homes.
As part of preparing for a potential IPO in relation to the divestment process for its global Consumer business and integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Sri Lanka, Fonterra has named Anne Templeman-Jones as chair-elect of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Mainland Group board.
There's been a positive response to the Government's latest move to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable.
Massey University has begun trialling the use of superior beef genetics in its two dairy farms as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's dairy beef progeny test.
The annual Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival – a fusion of books and storytelling - celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
OPINION: Forests planted for carbon credits are permanently locking up NZ’s landscapes, and could land us with more carbon costs,…
OPINION: NZ farming is built on hard work, but also on innovation, a lot of which came about thanks to…
