Crop weeds

Weeds are estimated to cost Australian agriculture more than $2.5 billion per year. Understanding weeds and the various methods to control them ultimately reduces costs and improves productivity.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development conducts research into the management of weeds and has developed integrated weed management (IWM) packages, that incorporate a number of varied weed control options, including chemical, physical and biological strategies, are vital for sustainable weed management in this state.

Weed populations that have developed herbicide resistance, where standard herbicide treatments are no longer effective, pose an increasing threat to WA's agricultural production.

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Articles

  • 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.

  • Sheep standing in the middle of a paddock.

    Pasture manipulation - for grass control

    30 April 2015

    Pasture manipulation is the application of herbicides for grass control early in the growing season (autumn or early winter).

    It is often the preferred option for grass control.

  • Paddock covered in stubble, with lines a foot wide where chaff was burnt.

    Harvest weed seed control shows continued success in controlling resistant weeds

    15 October 2020

    Results from a two-decade annual survey continue to show the success of harvest weed seed control as a part of broadacre farmers’ integrated weed management strategy in the Geraldton region.

  • weeds in canola image

    Chemical weed control in canola

    2 September 2020

    The Chemical weed control in canola bulletin has been produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporat

  • Capeweed flower head

    Crop weeds: integrated weed management (IWM)

    12 January 2011

    In-crop weed competition causes losses costing around $1 billion per annum for Western Australia.

  • Preparing to spray a trial

    Crop weeds: controlling small weeds

    14 January 2011

    In an integrated weed management program, control of weeds should occur in the fallow, pre-sowing, early post-emergent and in pasture phases.

  • Canola paddock with weeds

    Managing weeds in emerging crops

    17 August 2017

    Following the extended dry conditions this autumn, weeds are now emerging and becoming a challenge for growers to manage in paddocks that may have patchy crops, crops with staggered emergence or no

  • Resistant wild radish

    Developing an integrated weed management (IWM) plan

    15 February 2011

    Integrated weed management (IWM) is a system for managing weeds over the long term, and is particularly useful for managing and minimising herbicide resistance.

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