Seen this plant? Parthenium in the Moree Plains

Eagle eyes and teamwork have seen Moree Plains Shire Council’s Biosecurity staff take the upper hand in managing incursions of parthenium weed, Parthenium hysterophorus with more than 70 parthenium plants being found along the Newell and Kamilaroi Highways since January.

All plants were removed, the sites marked and treated with chemical.

Council’s Senior Biosecurity Officer Ian Schwartz said “ It’s a concern that Parthenium has been found along the major roads in the Shire. We don’t know if the seed source was grain, seed, hay or has come off vehicles or machinery passing through.

“With the break in the drought, we were waiting for new incursions to present and unfortunately, this has been the case. “

Landholders should make themselves familiar with Parthenium, using the NSW DPI Weedwise app and check their properties regularly, especially those who bought stockfeed out of Queensland during the drought or employed harvesting contractors who previously worked there before heading into NSW.

Parthenium weed spreads rapidly, is dangerous to grazing animals and reduces crop and land values. Contact with the plant or pollen can cause serious allergic reactions in people.

Should you suspect you have seen Parthenium weed, please call Council’s Biosecurity team on 6757 3222 or the NSW DPI Weeds Hotline on 1800 680 244.

More information about Parthenium weed and how to identify the plant at different growth stages is available from NSW DPI (visit https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/weeds/partheniumweed) and includes an online form to record any weed sightings.