Time is ripe to attack plant pest
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council is urging landholders to nip a major agricultural plant pest in the bud.
Now is an ideal time to tackle the Giant Sensitive Plant, Mimosa diplotricha, while it is flowering – and before it sets seed, according to Cr. Bill Horsford, a member of the council’s Pest Management Committee.
“Flowering season is definitely the best time to get out and about and sort out some control options,” he said.
“At this time of year, the Giant Sensitive Plant is very easy to recognise – the small pale pink flowers resemble fluffy balls about the size of a ten-cent piece.
“The plant’s leaves are bright green, feathery and fern-like. They have a sprawling vine-type nature, and the stems are usually lined with sharp hooked prickles.”
Cr. Horsford said controlling the Giant Sensitive Plant, classified as a Class 2 weed under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, wasn’t difficult at this stage of growth.
“But if you let it gain a foothold through a large seed bank, then you’re looking at increasing costs to gain effective control,” he warned.
“This plant is highly invasive and very persistent – and because of its climbing ability, it can spread up as well as out. It can rapidly colonise crop fields and is a real hazard to farm machinery.”
A range of control options were available to landholders, including mechanical, biological and chemical measures.
“The choice of control method will depend on a variety of issues, including the extent of the infestation, and the resources available to the landholder,” Cr. Horsford said. “Slashing is one of the more popular methods, but this needs to be done before the plants seed.”
Spray equipment is also available for loan from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, under specific conditions.
Giant Sensitive Plant seeds usually spread through the movement of soil, water and machinery, and may lie dormant in paddocks for up to 50 years. The disturbance of soil in paddocks previously infested can create favourable conditions for dormant seeds to germinate.
“This means even if landholders haven’t had problems with Giant Sensitive Plant recently, they should be checking carefully,” Cr. Horsford said.
He reminded landholders that they had a responsibility, under state legislation, to control all Class 2 weeds on their properties.
“If you haven’t inspected your property for the Giant Sensitive Plant and begun considering control measures, do it now – before the council’s annual inspection program,” Cr. Horsford advised.
“It’s a matter of respect for neighbouring properties. Control this pest before it spreads.”
For more information, landowners can visit the Department of Primary Industries website.
For further information, contact Ken English on 0407 963 619.