Western Australia
March 17, 2015
Dr Deb Cousins and Dr Tamrika Lanoiselet, of the Department of Agriculture and Food, look over the weed surveillance website where landholders can take part in selecting five priority weeds for a new surveillance program
Landholders can take part in selecting five priority weed targets for a new surveillance program across the South West Land Division.
The Department of Agriculture and Food is calling for producer and community input into its agricultural weed surveillance project, which will focus on 20 high priority declared weeds.
Department Biosecurity and Regulation Director Deb Cousins said the project relied on industry and community input to develop a program which delivered maximum control and eradication of weeds posing a threat to agricultural production.
“Controlling weeds costs the WA agriculture industry an estimated $341 million each year,” Dr Cousins said.
Fifteen weed species have been confirmed as surveillance targets and an additional five will be determined by industry and the community.
“The department has selected 27 high priority species,” Dr Cousins said. “From this list, landholders and community members can nominate the weeds they consider of highest priority. This feedback will be collated to select the five priority weed targets.”
The project is part of the $20 million Boosting Biosecurity Defences program, a component of the Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative made possible by the Royalties for Regions program.
Project leader Tamrika Lanoiselet said to be eligible as a high priority surveillance target, the weed must be a declared pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act).
“They must also have an adverse impact on agricultural production, be identifiable by the general public and easily survive in South West conditions,” Dr Lanoiselet said.
“Some well-known examples include silverleaf nightshade, apple of Sodom, blackberry, water hyacinth, golden dodder, arum lily, doublegee and variegated thistle.
“The full list of 27 species and instructions on how to nominate weeds is available at the department website agric.wa.gov.au by searching for ‘weed surveillance target’. The closing date for input is 10 April.”
The department reminds individuals and biosecurity groups who wish to be involved in the weed surveillance project to register their interest or find out more about the program at department website by searching for weed surveillance.
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