ON FARM SOUTHERN SHEEP AND CATTLE gorse Weed: Gorse Pip said gorse thickets are so dense they LESSONS out-compete all other vegetation, they LEARNED Where it grows: In all states and territoriescreate harbour for rabbits and other pests, except the NT, but is more prolific in and gorse seeds contaminate wool. Tasmania and southern Victoria. Favours > The gorse soft shoot moth areas with evenly distributed annual rainfallWith these challenges in mind, Pip impedes the plant’s flower-seed of 650–900mm. and Jenny willingly volunteered to cycle and may also enable take part in the new collaborative pathogens to enter it. Damage and threats: Reduces land biocontrol project. > As a biological control for gorse, productivity and wool clip values; reduces the moth is a long-term solution. biodiversity; contains flammable oils and For the past three years, the couple has > Ongoing commitment from creates increased bushfire risk. monitored the initial release of 100 gorse Landcare, environment and Present control: Herbicide application; soft shoot moths on a 10m² trial plot on producer groups to continue the grazing by goats and sheep; mechanical their farm. So far, results are encouraging. moth’s population expansion and control and burning within an integrated “We can see the moths have affected the distribution is essential to success.control program. Also limited biological gorse within the plot and they have spread, control by the gorse seed weevil released but it’s a long-term solution with a 30–40 in Australia in 1939 and gorse thrips, year timeframe,” Pip said. released in 2001. The biocontrol project Challenges: A mature infestation can Project Manager Greg Lefoe, Senior produce up to six million seeds/ha/year; Research Scientist at Agriculture Victoria, seeds can live in the soil for up to 30 years;is encouraged by the moth’s progress. difficult to eradicate; expensive and labourIn Tasmania, where moth infestations intensive to control; spreads via water, are more advanced, plants are dying, vehicles and animal movements. according to Greg. Biocontrol solution: The gorse soft shoot “It’s taken a while for populations to build, moth, first released in 2007, feeds on but in Tasmania, where we have strong soft shoots, which retards flowering and collaboration from producers and Landcare consequently decreases seed production. groups, sites are being harvested and Physical damage to the plant also makes it 25,000 moths have been released across vulnerable to pathogens that can enter and south-eastern Australia over the past three kill the plant. years,” he said. The producer experience “We still need more site monitoring and For Pip and Jenny Elston, the battle to research, and continued efforts from control gorse on their central Victorian Landcare and similar groups to build farm has been ongoing for 30 years. the moth population and increase While they have mostly succeeded its distribution. in restricting its spread, they accept “It’s a long-term project and the full extent of that 10ha of their property is lost to its impact won’t be known for some years yet.” farming production. Greg said the moth, while no silver bullet for “We’ve had successful spraying programs gorse control, could be particularly useful that over time have proved effective, but for extensive and/or remote infestations. you can’t relax,” Pip said. “They’re also suitable for sensitive areas “The seed lasts in the ground for a very where chemical treatments are not an long time.” option,” he said. SNAPSHOT:Pip Elston, Baynton, central VictoriaSl Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 630ha Beef and lamb 70 Angus Ryegrass, clover, Granite, basalt 700mm production breeders, 550 phalaris, cocksfoot Coopworth ewes 33