AUSTRALIA’S premier event to help grain growers control weeds – WeedSmart Week – will be held in Mildura for the first time this year.
Expected to attract up to 200 northern Mallee grain growers and other participants, WeedSmart Week will include two days of farm tours and a machinery expo, plus a one-day forum featuring weed experts, leading growers and agronomists.
WeedSmart is an industry-led initiative that delivers science-backed weed control solutions to growers and will this year be held from August 30 to September 1.
WeedSmart Southern extension agronomist Greg Condon said weeds are one of the largest costs to grain growers affecting management, yields and input costs.
“WeedSmart Week is an opportunity to learn about practical solutions for dealing with weeds but in the context of profitable farming systems,” he said.
“Growers, agronomists and scientists share the podium, coming together to share insights about managing weeds and herbicide resistance in broadacre cropping systems.”
WeedSmart Week is held in a different location every year showcasing effective and science-backed weed control strategies to growers and advisers.
This year’s event will focus on the southern grain-growing region and share knowledge on the WeedSmart Big 6 tactics to control weeds; rotate crops and pastures; double knock; mix and rotate herbicides; stop seed set; increase crop competition; and harvest weed seed control.
Managing weeds to help optimise input costs, improve yield and grower profitability is a key target for GRDC.
GRDC weeds manger Jason Emms said a number of topics on the WeedSmart Week agenda were the focus of GRDC investment such as area wide management of weeds, biocontrol of weeds, integrated weed management of barley grass, and understanding the prevalence of herbicide resistance.
“We’re looking forward to seeing growers from across the grain growing regions participate,” Dr Emms said.
“We want attendees to share expertise and knowledge to help tackle our most pressing weed problems in our effort to reduce the gap between actual and potential yield.”
In the latest GRDC Farm Practices Survey, 44 per cent of interviewed grain growers from the South Australian/Victorian Mallee region said ryegrass was their main weed concern, followed by herbicide resistance (28 per cent), summer grasses (26 per cent) and broadleaf weeds (23 per cent).
The WeedSmart Week 2022 program and tickets are available on the WeedSmart website.
