The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is calling on Grainbelt farmers to maintain paddock searches for the declared pest, skeleton weed, throughout late summer and autumn.
Project Manager at DPIRD, Martin Atwell said monitoring should include previously searched and treated skeleton weed paddocks for any late plant finds.
“Early detection is the best protection,” Mr Atwell said.
“Skeleton weed can grow quickly, up to 20cm a week, setting seed within days of flowering.”
He said it was imperative that farmers keep an eye on skeleton weed-infested paddocks, and continue with follow-up monitoring and treatment of the sites throughout summer and early autumn, to ensure the plants are prevented from setting seed.
“Now is also the best time to search any suspected skeleton weed paddocks, with plants flowering and seeding,” Mr Atwell said.
“The Skeleton Weed Program is currently undertaking surveillance searching, using a mix of traditional vehicle searching and drones.”
He said skeleton weed had upright and usually leafless stems, which gave the appearance of the skeleton of a plant.
“It is most recognisable for its bright yellow daisy flowers when flowering during summer and autumn,” Mr Atwell said.
Skeleton Weed Program activities are funded by growers through the Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Funding Scheme.
