Trials , results , knowledge gained
Forage sorghum was successfully established , with cattle grazing the main paddock for two months in early 2022 . The forage sorghum re-shot following winter rain , with cattle again grazing the treated areas in September 2022 .
A 90 per cent reduction of chinee apple , rubber vine and prickly acacia was achieved across the trial paddocks . Some weed re-establishment occurred mainly around damp areas such as a large dam and in a gully area .
BASAL BARK
Basal barking is commonly used for woody weeds and again proved a successful treatment . Scattered chinee apple and prickly acacia was treated with Starane and diesel using quad bikes , across 250ha . A very high kill rate was observed across all five treated paddocks .
AERIAL FOLIAR SPRAYING – A CONTAINMENT AND REDUCTION STRATEGY
Dense regrowth was treated aerially with Grazon across a 265ha paddock to suppress and knock back plants prior to mechanical control . A 50 per cent kill of smaller plants was observed .
Dense regrowth was treated aerially with Starane across a 220ha paddock , achieving a 75 per cent kill rate . A review will be undertaken in 2024 to determine an ongoing control method .
KEY LEARNINGS
• Always check legislative obligations to see if the planned technique is authorised .
• When planning aerial treatments , neighbouring properties , and surrounding land use needs to be taken into consideration to mitigate spray drift risk .
• Cutter barring works better under drier conditions so that soil flows across the cutter bar .
• Planting forage sorghum provided good competition for any germinating weeds and excellent livestock production .
• Ongoing management is still required to get on top of the weed issue . On the better soils , there is the potential to re-plough to tackle weed regrowth and , concurrently , establish pasture grasses .
• Basal bark treatment for scattered chinee apple and prickly acacia worked well , and a splatter gun will also be used to reduce chemical costs .
• Only chemically treat plants when they are showing no signs of stress .