In a district quite literally covered in swathes of mature African lovegrass (ALG) plants, a landholder and a farmer are turning the landscape around.
Alan Richardson hosted about 25 people from Stratford and Briagolong to Orbost on his 80-acre property at Romawi last Thursday, to show people the difference he and local farmer, Brody Kennedy, have made to one of his paddocks.
The ALG in the 20-acre paddock was described as ‘wall-to-wall lovegrass’ but what met those on the paddock walk was a decent crop of brassica, ready for cattle to graze this week.
Instead of paying a lease or agistment, Brodie is tasked with putting money into the land and cleaning up the ALG.
“I run my own business and have a young family,” Alan said.
“The ALG problem was too overwhelming, we had the best intentions of working on it, but realised it was too big.”
The Richardson’s 20-acre paddock was burnt on August 14, creating a roaring blaze as the mature plants were tall and dry.
A set of speed discs were used afterwards on the same day, then the paddock was sprayed with glyphosate three weeks later, after some of the plants had regenerated, and had the speed discs go over again to create a better seed bed.
“We had a really good plant kill with the fire, then the spray,” Brodie said.
“This crop is the first step in multiple years of spraying and cropping.”
Brodie said brassica was chosen as it was cheap, quick and easy and they could throw it out with the spreader, and the seed cost $500 over the 20 acres.
One half of the paddock was fertilised with 100kg of DAP fertiliser while the other half went without, the latter half showing slower growth rates.
On hand was Craig Bush of Toms Creek Landcare, the group behind African lovegrass trials at the Gippsland Research Farm (GRF) and the Richardson demonstration, and Rick Blackshaw of Gippsland Agricultural Group.
“We have a plan for small landholders to come and learn that if you have a go, you can control it,” Craig said.
Elders agronomist Olivia Betts said one ALG could produce 100,000 seeds and those seeds can lay dormant for 17 years.
“It requires ongoing management,” Olivia said.
Rick Blackshaw was keen to spread ALG knowledge.
“If you do nothing, you’ll get nothing,” Rick said.
“If you spend a little, you will get results, and you can do it in incremental stages.
“As custodians of the land you’re making a difference.”
Many attendees had ALG on their properties, while others were unsure of what the plant looked like, and there were plenty of questions, with people waiting in turn to voice them.
One of the farmers asked, ‘Considering how much of a pain in the neck it is – why’s it called lovegrass?’ which drew wry laughter from the crowd.
The plan is to spray the paddock out and plant again in autumn, with clovers, oats and ryegrass, with possibly millet to go in the following summer.
Brodie said burning was the quickest way of turning a paddock around and that fencing plays a big part in management.
Brodie plans to split the paddock into quarters and rotationally graze them.
“Grazing pressure helps control it too,” Brodie said.
“We will get rid of it from this farm and we’re happy to share our info.
“It’s definitely daunting.
“ALG is terrible stuff.”
Toms Creek Landcare Group treasurer, Jen Smith, said the group was ‘TCL’, taking care of lovegrass, with the support of the Catchment Management Authority.
“Toms Creek Landcare is waging a war on lovegrass right here on the red gum plains,” Jen said.
“We want to stop this weed dead in its tracks.
“This paddock walk is an example of the type of activities we have been doing and endeavour to do in the future.
“Our goal is to take the skills, the knowledge and the confidence that many of our Landcare members have from years of controlling this weed on their farms and share that amongst other landholders.
“Whether you have five acres, 500 acres or 5000 acres, if you want to control this weed then join us in this war against lovegrass.
“Expect to see more workshops, a wick wiping ute drive before the end of the year, and a big showcase with Neil Moss in February next year.
“We also welcome our new shire councillors and look forward to working with that leadership team on managing this weed which presents a colossal threat to biodiversity, to agricultural production and to all-round sustainability and land management.
“We welcome anyone to come along to our events and help us to tackle this weed.”
TCLC has been trialling different methods of chemical and non-chemical control methods on ALG over the past three years at the Gippsland Research Farm (GRF).
The group invites any interested person to attend a plant identification day at the GRF, with local consultant Dr Alison Gunn, to explore control strategies for large and small properties.
The information day will take place at the GRF near the Bairnsdale Airport on Saturday, December 7, from 10am and finish with a barbecue lunch.
Contact Jen Smith at GAgG/TCLC for catering purposes.
