Title: Winter the time to act to reduce the spread of 'tar weed'
[DPI 20 July 2011] -- Landholders in South West Victoria are being urged to treat the Regionally Prohibited Weed amsinckia over winter in a bid to help reduce its spread across the Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins catchments. Amsinckia, commonly known as tar weed, is not yet widely distributed across the two catchment areas, but it has the potential to spread further if left untreated; posing a significant threat to agriculture and the environment. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Biosecurity Officer Tim Stuckey said amsinckia competes with cereal crops, and heavy infestations can cause large yield losses.
"The seed from amsinckia can also contaminate grain and wool, reducing their market value," Mr Stuckey said.
"Amsinckia can be spread by farm equipment, when the seed gets lodged in the coats of feral animals and livestock, or when the seed is carried in the digestive tracts of birds and livestock."
Mr Stuckey said under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, it is the responsibility of landholders to take all reasonable steps to eradicate regionally prohibited weeds such as amsinckia on their properties.
"Infestations of amsinckia are known in the Leigh Creek, Scotsburn, Dunnstown, Bungaree and Mt Rowan areas near Ballarat," he said.
"Surveillance activities conducted by DPI revealed that some amsinckia seedlings have developed in the infested areas, making now a good time to employ effective control measures."
Mr Stuckey said the department was coordinating inspections of amsinckia infestation sites across the Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins catchments and landholders with amsinckia on their properties in these catchments should expect to see DPI officers over winter.
"While DPI has enjoyed proactive support from landowners willing to work towards eradicating this invasive weed species, landholders are still expected to treat all infestations of regionally prohibited weeds on their properties.
"Action may be taken by the department in cases where compliance work is not completed by a landholder," Mr Stuckey warned.
Amsinckia plants generally commence flowering during August, but due to higher than average summer rainfall, flowering may begin earlier this year. Amsinckia is known to have numerous germination events per year, and landowners should be wary of this and be prepared to treat infestations more than once.