Agriculture Victoria is holding its inaugural field day on the new Upper Murray Weed Warriors Producer Demonstration Site.
The Weed Warrior Demonstration Group and Site was established to enable producers affected by the 2019-20 fires to witness the long-term effects of different management techniques when it comes to managing pasture and weeds after a fire.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Development Officer Nick Linden says the benefit of the field day on the Weed Warriors Demonstration Site is that producers can see first-hand the impact of different management techniques.
“When you visit a one-off activity or field day, you can get information about processes, but you can’t really be sure if it will work or not,” Mr Linden said.
“With this Weed Warrior Field day, there’s the chance to review different management techniques, then follow up and see what impact they had, what worked and what didn’t.
“We will be able to see what it has meant for the pasture composition and be able to decide whether it was worth doing.”
The inaugural field day, Power your Paddocks, will focus on weed control after fires, how to select pasture species, perennials versus annual, and grass and legume options.
The event will also include a demonstration on how to accurately calibrate your spray unit, nozzles, pressures, and pumps, and ways to improve spraying techniques.
“It’s a really practical field day,” Mr Linden said. “If you are going to spend the time and money on seed and fertiliser and resowing or repairing your pasture, it’s good to know it will be worth the effort.”
The free event will be held on Thursday 17 March from 10am to 12.30pm on the Weed Warriors Demonstration Site at Cudgewa. The property was selected for its pastures, which are typical of those in the region.
Mr Linden will be onsite to provide an introduction to the Weed Warriors Producer Demonstration project, run with the Upper Murray Landcare Network, and discuss the different techniques involved in managing pasture after a fire, whether it’s resowing or restoring.
Corryong agronomist Graham Martin will discuss what’s been working in the Upper Murray regarding weed and pasture management, while farmer and chemical trainer Neil Stringer will provide practical tips on setting up and calibrating a spray unit to maximise efficiency.
