Council Calls For Diligence During Harvest

Moree Plains Shire Council is asking farmers to be diligent during the 2021 grain harvest and assist in the fight against Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) as contract harvesters begin moving from infested areas of Queensland into New South Wales for the harvest of winter crops.

Parthenium weed is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, ability to spread and its potentially devastating economic, health and environmental impacts.

Moree Plains Shire Council Senior Biosecurity Officer Ian Schwartz is asking growers to ensure they have documentation from NSW DPI Inspection Stations before contractors, who have been working in Queensland, begin work on New South Wales properties.

“When viewing border crossing documentation, it is good practice for growers to note where contract machinery was working before crossing the border, and where it is going after the current job is completed.  If there is an outbreak of Parthenium weed, it will be easier and faster to track,” he said.

On average, over 600 headers enter New South Wales from Queensland each year and almost all on-farm Parthenium Weed outbreaks have been associated with grain harvesting machinery.

NSW Department of Primary Industry stations at Mungindi, Hebel, Talwood and Goondiwindi conduct clean down and inspections for Parthenium weed and these will be manned throughout the harvesting period where the threat from Parthenium weed passing into New South Wales is at its highest.

Contractors should notify their nearest Inspection Stations 24 hours before their arrival to avoid delays.

You can contact the Department of Primary Industry Inspection Stations at Goondiwindi on (07) 4671 1227, Mungindi (02) 6753 2323, Tallwood (07) 4677 1183 or Hebel (07) 4625 0916. 

Landholders can report outbreaks of Parthenium Weed to the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or Moree Plains Shire Council Biosecurity Officers on (02) 6757 3222.