Blue Heliotrope is the hot topic currently casting a purple haze across Hunter paddocks and leaving many farmers baffled on where to start with control measures. This prolific weed has populated drought-exposed lighter soils, popping up everywhere on the back of recent rain. The pungent smell from this summer-active weed can cause issues for some allergy sufferers and the fresh and dried weed is toxic to livestock. Blue heliotrope has sticky seeds and spreads easily on machinery, native and feral animals, and in introduced hay.
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Hunter LLS is holding a Blue Heliotrope Management Workshop in Merriwa on Friday March 20.
Cattle producer, Col Bates, who is hosting the workshop on his Merriwa property, battled infestations of the weed for four years before attending a 2016 Hunter LLS field trip to Binnaway.
Back home, he was inspired to form a new plan of attack to control Blue Heliotrope. In arable country, the "Fight fire with Fire" approach has been adopted, sowing tropical pastures to out-compete the weed, and in native grass pastures, the focus is on effective control through multiple timely herbicide applications.Producers will hear about the weed's impact on animal health and a report on biological control options. Following lunch, the event will shift focus and location to the Merriwa Pasture Demonstration Site for a close-up look at the performance of tropical grass and temperate legumes. To register for this event contact Hunter Local Land Services on 6540 2400 or visit Hunter LLS on Facebook.
