Title: Hitch-hiking weed warning for Tasmania

[The Examiner May 13 2009] A hitch-hiking weed seed has led to a call for farmers to inspect the fur of incoming stock. ``Recently we had an incursion of Bathurst Burr in the North-West of the State which we believe may have come in on the tails of livestock purchased in northern Victoria,'' said Kiowa Fenner, Department of Primary Industries regional weed management officer. The Bathurst Burr was identified early and the site contained. Ms Fenner said there had been a small number of Bathurst Burr infestations previously in Tasmania, but all sites had been contained or eradicated, and preventing its further spread was important.

``The weed is widely spread on the mainland but we are fortunate in that it remains relatively uncommon in Tasmania,'' Ms Fenner said.

``The weed is spread by seed and, as its name suggests, is easily entangled in the wool and fur of stock such as sheep and cattle.''

Bathurst Burr invades crops such as peas, potatoes and grapes.



From http://www.examiner.com.au, see original source.



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WeedsNews36: re: Hitch-hiking weed warning for Tasmania
Article: WeedsNews35 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:weed control
Date: 18 May 2009; 1:44:15 PM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid