Regional demonstration of integrated weed tactics across farming systems

The aims of this project are to reduce reliance on glyphosate for weed control and to support growers to identify and integrate different tactics and new technologies into their local farming systems. Driven by locally relevant weed issues, demonstration of IWM principles will increase adoption and improve control of herbicide resistant and difficult to control weeds. This project is a co-investment between grains (GRDC) and cotton (CRDC) which will address regional weeds issues in a farming systems approach with an aim to reduce yield loss from the impact of weeds by 20% across the northern grains and cotton region. The activities of the project will include: · Conducting focus group discussions in cotton and grains growing regions of Central Queensland, Darling Downs, Border Rivers (QLD/NSW), Northern NSW and Southern NSW. In each region, locally relevant weed issues will be identified. · The establishment of field sites in each region to demonstrate IWM principles based on the outcome of focus group discussions. These sites will be used to integrate residual herbicides and new technologies to manage emerging regional and herbicide resistant weeds, as well as stop crop injury due to herbicide carry over. · Workshops where the importance of matching management practices with weed ecology will be discussed and the economics of weed management across the rotation evaluated for different regional farming systems. This project will benefit the Australian cotton and grains industry by increasing: · Industry wide adoption of IWM principles and herbicide resistant management strategies for both the cotton and grains industries. · The adoption of residual herbicides as part of an IWM package and a range of diversified weed control tactics to improve gross margins for Australian cotton and grains production by: Refer FRP for full summary