AgPest » AgPest » Tag » Weed Alert

Be vigilant about Velvetleaf.

AgPest — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 18:30:08 +0000

Velvetleaf seed was introduced to NZ as a contaminant of some fodder beet seed and planted in many properties throughout NZ. Therefore, if you have either grown fodder beet or received fodder beet onto your property you need to be vigilant and keep an eye out for this weed and do not let it establish on your property.
Velvet leaf is declared Unwanted Organism by MPI and occurrences must be reported and dealt with. For more information phone the MPI hotline 0800 80 99 66 or go to MPI or go to AgPest, or contact your regional council.

Time to apply herbicides to yellow bristle grass:

AgPest — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 19:45:06 +0000

Apply herbicides to yellow bristle grass before seed heads ripen. Avoid moving stock from infested to clean paddocks – seeds can survive in dung.

Don’t make hay from paddocks heavily infested with yellow bristle grass or other summer growing grass weeds – the seeds survive in hay. In contrast, yellow bristle grass seeds do not survive in well-made silage and wrapped baleage.

Chilean needle grass becomes evident this month.

AgPest — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 20:30:54 +0000

Chilean needle grass will become evident in pastures in November-December. Keep an eye out for the reddish purple colour of the seed heads when they first emerge. Each seed has a 7 cm long awn (bristle-like tail). This grass is most likely to be found in pastures on north/west-facing drought-prone slopes but may be present in contaminated stock feed / hay. If you suspect that you have it, please contact your local council biosecurity people for identification and management advice immediately.

Cost Benefit Analysis tool for Regional Pest Management updated

AgPest — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 19:45:17 +0000

The Cost Benefit Analysis tool for Regional Pest Management has been revised and you may notice some changes when using the tool. If you have any questions, please consult the User Guide, which can be downloaded from the top right-hand corner of the tool.

You can find the Cost Benefit Analysis tool here: http://www.agresearch.co.nz/cba/

Be alert for Chilean needle grass

AgPest — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:00:29 +0000

Chilean needle grass will become evident in pastures during November and December as its distinctive purple-coloured spikelets, with their developing long-awned needle-sharp seeds, emerge from elongating flower stems. Details of this invasive grass can be found here on AgPest. This grass is most likely to be found in pastures on north/west-facing drought-prone slopes. If you suspect that you have it, please contact your local council biosecurity people for identification and management advice.

Chilean needle grass becoming evident

AgPest — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 19:30:51 +0000

Prevent establishment of Field Horsetail

AgPest — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 19:30:29 +0000

Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a very difficult to control perennial weed that regrows each spring/summer from an extensive underground root system. Preventing establishment is the best form of control. Make sure your contractors machines are clean and ask where the machines have been.

This root system comprises actively growing rhizomes that can penetrate to more than 1 m in depth, from which green fern-like fronds grow each year. Attached to the deeper rhizomes are small tubers which remain dormant while the rhizome stays alive. Upon the death/decay of the rhizome, or when it becomes detached due to cultivation or other means, the tubers are able to produce new plants.

Summer active grass weeds

AgPest — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 19:30:17 +0000

If your run-out pasture was infested with summer-active grass weeds last summer, consider growing a forage crop for one or two summers prior to sowing the perennial pasture. This provides the opportunity to selectively spray the summer-active grasses and prevent weed seeds from replenishing the seed bank and infesting newly sown pastures. Forage crops will also disrupt clover root weevil populations allowing better subsequent establishment of young clover.

Summer-active grass weeds

AgPest — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:45:43 +0000

If your run-out pasture was infested with summer-active grass weeds (such as yellow bristle grass) last summer, consider growing a forage crop for one or two summers prior to sowing the perennial pasture. This provides the opportunity to selectively spray the summer-active grasses and prevent weed seeds from replenishing the seed bank and infesting newly sown pastures.

Hairy buttercup added to AgPest

AgPest — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 02:55:34 +0000

Hairy buttercup has been added to the AgPest online Pest Directory.

Hairy buttercup is not considered poisonous to livestock but because dairy cows tend to avoid it and prefer to graze grasses and clovers, it can become dominant in the pasture.

More info, including identification, biology, impact and control here: http://agpest.co.nz/?pesttypes=hairy-buttercup