Narromine Shire Council is seeking assistance from the community to help prevent the spread of weeds and weed seeds.
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Landholders and the community are being advised to take precautions to reduce the risk of weed spread if buying in grain or hay to feed livestock.
“Feed can contain numerous weed seeds, and as drought conditions continue stockfeed is being transported long distances across the state and even country to feed livestock,” Narromine Shire General Manager Jane Redden said.
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“Feed is not the only way weeds seeds can be spread, contaminated machinery, vehicles and crop seeds are also an issue.”
“We are urging landholders and the community to continually monitor weed infestations and to carry out control works,” she said.
To minimise the risk of spreading weed seed through hay and grain stock feeds movement, the Council advises landholders to follow Plant Health Australia’s Biosecurity Manual for Grain Producers and take the following precautions outlined by the Grains Research and Development Corporation:
- Check the origin of your hay or grain and be aware of potential weed risk.
- Observe any restrictions on the movement of plant material interstate and within states
- Check hay for weeds as you feed out: this may alert you to future issues
- If possible source locally grown feed to reduce the chance of introducing new weeds to your region
- Feed stock in a designated quarantine paddock: this will limit the area where weed seeds are dispersed for easier monitoring and management after rain.
- If transporting hay or grain clean down vehicles after delivery in designated area to reduce risk of spread and make future monitoring and management easier.
- Monitor hay and grain storage areas, paddocks and roadways for new weeds
- Post rain, identify or seek assistance to identify any new weeks to ensure the selection of appropriate control strategies
Landholders need to be proactive and take measures to ensure any potentially serious weed incursions are identified and report to the Council as soon as possible by calling 6889 9999.
