Weed management programs
Plant policies are used to manage plants declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, and some plants that are not declared.
The following initiatives support these policies and provide best practice information for managing weeds.
Projects
Flood recovery pests and weeds >
Pest and weed management projects are supporting the recovery of flood-affected regions of the Eyre Peninsula and Arid Lands.
Minimising losses in crops and pasture >
Training was provided to landholders via weed management workshops to carry out coordinated best practice control.
Control programs
Buffel grass
Buffel grass
Plans for specific weeds have been prepared to guide coordinated management programs:
Cropping and pasture weeds
Cropping and pasture weeds
The Cropping and Pasture Weeds program is targeting:
- African lovegrass in the Limestone Coast, Eyre Peninsula, and Murraylands and Riverland
- Chilean needle grass in the Hills and Fleurieu.
Demonstration sites and workshops are helping landholders to manage priority weeds that threaten their farming system. Targeted landholder assistance is reducing existing infestations.
This program is co-funded by the Australian Government, the Government of South Australia, and regional Landscape Boards.
Opuntioid cacti
Opuntioid cacti
Opuntioid cacti are major weed threats to South Australia’s livestock industry and environment. The following best practice information helps to manage these pests:
- Managing Opuntioid Cacti in Australia manual ()
- Opuntioid Cacti Management Guide () – 12 page summary of the manual
- State Opuntioid Cacti Management Plan ().
Silverleaf nightshade
Silverleaf nightshade
Silverleaf nightshade is a deep-rooted perennial weed threatening crops and pastures in this state. It is a Weed of National Significance which must be managed per the following guidelines:
Wheel cactus and African boxthorn
Wheel cactus and African boxthorn
A wheel cactus and African boxthorn trial and demonstration site were established in the Mid-North of South Australia to:
- compare the effectiveness of aerial and mechanical control of African boxthorn
- demonstrate various traditional chemical treatments for both species.
African boxthorn control program
In 2019, a total of 5,260 African boxthorn were controlled over an area of 3,215 hectares. This is the largest coordinated control program for the species in South Australian arid rangelands.
This project was delivered through a partnership between private landholders, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and PIRSA Biosecurity. It was partly funded through the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
Read the Eastern Plains Boxthorn Control Trial and Demonstration report ().
Weeds of National Significance (WoNS)
WoNS are Australia’s most invasive plants that have proven social, economic and environmental impacts. They require national action to manage, which is coordinated through Australia-wide programs and strategies.
Find out how to control these declared weeds in SA.
