Watch out for parthenium weed

PRODUCTION ADVICE - OCTOBER 2020 - PESTS & WEEDS

By Tash Lappin
Regional Weeds Coordinator
P: 02 6051 2231 | M: 0429 827 471 | E: natasha.lappin@lls.nsw.gov.au

Parthenium weed, a Weed of National Significance, has recently been found in several locations across NSW.

Please familiarise yourself with this identifying this weed and report any suspected discoveries of it to your local council’s weeds officer. Information on identifying parthenium weed can be found on the NSW DPI WeedWise website.

Parthenium weed is identified as a significant biosecurity risk in NSW and is listed as Prohibited Matter in Schedule 2 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015.

Parthenium weed. Image courtesy NSW DPI, photographer Bob Trounce.

Seasonal conditions and the movement of feed and fodder contaminated with weed seed into NSW (especially from Queensland) has increased the risk of new incursions of the weed establishing.  With rainfall and increased soil temperatures, it is expected that more sites will be found.

Areas of highest risk are where feed or grain has been fed to livestock, including poultry, areas where earthworks have taken place and areas of bare soil.  Use of harvesting equipment if coming from Queensland is also a high risk.

The weed has so far been found on roadsides, feed out sites, cropping paddocks, peri-urban residences, and poultry farms.

Parthenium weed can cause health issues in people and also impacts on agricultural production both for livestock and cropping producers.

If you find a plant you suspect is parthenium weed, please contact your local council weeds officer who can help with identification and management advice.  You can also contact the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or Murray Local Land Services Weeds Coordinator on 02 6051 2231.