Informed weed management strategies for emerging weeds based on biological and ecological knowledge of button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce, fleabane and wireweed

Weeds are a major cost to Australian grain growers due to the direct cost of weed control, the impact of weeds on crop yields loss due to competition and price downgrades due to contamination. Past GRDC investments have generated considerable knowledge about the biology and ecology of a range of emerging weeds including button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce and wireweed. The Weed Investment Prioritisation Tool has also identified these as priority weeds. This research will build on the biological and ecological knowledge about these weeds and start to explore management strategies. The aim is that by 2027, annual chemical weed control costs are reduced by 5% and crop production is increased through growers making more informed decisions to manage emerging weed species by integrating ecological and biological knowledge into effective integrated weed management strategies.