Weeds

Weeds pose a serious risk for primary producers as they can impact on market access and agricultural production.

In 2006/07, each Western Australian agricultural business spent an average of $29 376 ($341 million total) on weed control (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Weed control is a shared responsibility between landholders, grower groups, biosecurity groups and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

To protect WA’s agriculture, the department:

  • works with landholders, grower groups, community groups and biosecurity groups
  • regulates weeds under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007
  • provides a weed identification service
  • provides a predictive simulation tool called weed seed wizard
  • provides information on weed control, crop weeds, regulated/declared plants and herbicides
  • contributes to social science through weedwatcher.

For advice on weeds search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

See Also

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Articles

  • Capeweed flower head

    Capeweed reduces crop yield

    4 February 2011

    In Western Australia, competition from 7-90 capeweed plants per square metre in a wheat crop can reduce crop yield by 28-44% and net return by 25-76%.

  • Assessing burnt stubble

    Crop weeds: reduce weed seed numbers in the soil

    9 December 2010

    One method of weed control is to remove weed seeds in the fallow, stubble and pre-sowing phase.

  • Swathing canola

    Crop weeds: stop weed seed set

    15 June 2012

    Preventing weed seed set provides an opportunity to control weed seed set in the pasture, late fallow, late stubble and in-crop phases.

  • Baling crop residue directly from the header

    Crop weeds: weed management at harvest

    29 May 2012

    This management strategy provides an opportunity to control weed seed set in the pasture and during harvest.

  • Fleabane

    Fleabane

    4 February 2011

    Flaxleaf and tall fleabane (Conyza spp.) are emerging weeds in Western Australia, germinating in spring and becoming major weeds in summer.

  • Doublegee seedling

    Doublegee

    3 February 2011

    Doublegee or spiny emex is a significant weed in Western Australia. It is a vigorous annual herb with a strong tap root and a long, fleshy, hairless stem.

  • Both the calibration of orchard sprayers and making the right choice of product to spray are included in the orchard spray guide

    Pome and Summer Fruit Orchard Spray Guide for Western Australia 2020-21

    24 March 2014

    The Pome and Summer Fruit Orchard Spray Guide 2020-21 provides information on chemical products, both registered and those as minor use permits, to control insect, mite and mollusc pests, diseases

  • Silvergrass plant showing seed heads

    Silver grass

    4 February 2011

    Silver grass is an annual grass occurring in both cropping and grazing regions across Australia. There are several species, the most common being Vulpia myuros and V. bromoides.

  • Wild radish flowering heads

    Wild radish

    18 May 2012

    Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) is highly competitive in crops and can cause a yield loss of 10-90%.

  • Herbicide resistance

    Herbicide resistance

    31 January 2011

    Herbicide resistance is the inherited ability of an individual plant to survive a herbicide application that would kill a normal population of the same species.

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