Double sprays needed to control summer weeds

Victorian and southern NSW farmers have completed at least two passes to control summer weeds after widespread rainfall.

Farmers have been kept busy on the spray rig as they try to control summer weeds.

In some locations, the tractor will take more than two passes to kill persistent culprits, including fleabane, hairy panic, heliotrope and crumble weed.

Birchip farmer John Ferrier said the recent rain meant there had been a good opportunity for weeds to germinate.

“Most of our paddocks have been sprayed twice to try and get the weeds under control,” he said.

David and John Ferrier with Lotty the Golden Retriever puppy. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mr Ferrier said farmers welcomed the rain, which had arrived in abundance. However, it was essential to control weeds.

“We know it is important to control the weeds to conserve soil moisture,” he said.

“Now is the time to do an excellent job of the spray program.”

Mr Ferrier said a lot of glyphosate was being used, and farmers were doing their best to control volunteer weeds.

He said that depending on the location, some farmers would likely complete more than two weed spraying passes on paddocks.

Mr Ferrier said he would start sowing winter crops at his property in April.

Agronomist and farmer Don Kirkpatrick of Maxwell Park at Mangoplah in southern NSW said the rainfall had created ideal conditions for weeds to germinate.

He measured 130mm of rain in the gauge in November, followed by 50mm each for December and January.

“There are huge parts of NSW that have had plenty of rain,” he said.

Mr Kirkpatrick had also sprayed his paddocks twice.

“If you are going to spray them once, and the weeds come back, you have to respray them and stick to your plan,” he said.

Mr Kirkpatrick said there would be subsequent moisture and nutrient loss without adequate weed control.

He has used a mix of glyphosate and 2,4-D to control the summer weeds.

“We did our first spray in early December and a second one in January,” he said.

Mr Kirkpatrick said the positive side of summer weeds was abundant moisture levels due to rainfall.

“People’s dams and tanks are all full, and we will have stored moisture at sowing time in April,” he said.