New five-year permit for windmill grass control in New South Wales

Date:08-02-2012

A new five-year permit held by the Grain Orana Alliance (GOA) will significantly improve control options for the problem weed, windmill grass.

Maurie Street, GOA chief executive officer says the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) permit now allows growers to control windmill grass in fallow with Targa followed by paraquat in a double knock.

Mr Street says research funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and carried out by GOA shows Targa followed by the double knock technique to be the most effective way to kill windmill grass.

"Prior to this permit we have been lacking an effective control options for windmill grass,” he said.

"Continuing to spray fallows with glyphosate and not controlling this weed is only promoting resistance development in a grass which is one of three summer grasses confirmed as resistant to glyphosate,” he said.

"This has threatened the benefits of the minimum till farming system as the only real option for growers was a return to cultivation.”

The permit is open for general use and is valid until 31 March 2017.