ON FARM NORTHERN CATTLE FEEDBASE f Direct hit on parkinsonia I t’s safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly – the new tool to fight the noxious woody weed, parkinsonia, is being heralded as a major step forward in boosting feedbase management. Now available to landholders, Australia (BHA), cattle Di‑Bak Parkinsonia is producers, government a biological herbicide departments and natural containing naturally resource management groups. occurring fungal pathogens. These are delivered in Following initial producer capsules injected directly observations and small plot into the trees, enabling trials, MLA supported larger targeted application and producer trials. limiting adverse impacts on MLA Program Manager the surrounding environment. Sustainable Feedbase The product, which has Resources, Cameron Allan, Australian Pesticides and said the product was a Veterinary Medicines positive addition to existing Authority approval, methods of managing introduces pathogens that parkinsonia. induce dieback disease, “Di‑Bak Parkinsonia provides which stresses and can kill another tool for producers the plant. to implement into their weed Dense thickets of management programs parkinsonia occupy vast and tackle their specific areas of northern Australia, parkinsonia problems,” negatively impacting Cameron said. pastoral industry production During its development, it BioHerbicides Australia’s CEO Peter Riikonen and MLA’s Cameron by limiting pasture growth, was observed that Di‑Bak Allan with the new product Di‑Bak Parkinsonia. BHA’s Dr Ken Goulter, restricting stock access to works best in dense thickets, University of Queensland’s Professor Vic Galea and MLA’s Amanda pasture and water points, McAlpine test out the equipment at back. with the disease establishing and increasing mustering and spreading in the thicket difficulty and cost. after inoculation of several existing larger weed “As part of a well‑considered, plants. Spot spraying infestations,” Cameron said. consistent weed More than a decade ago, management program, producer observations isolated or large plants with Research indicates the indicated evidence of chemicals to rapidly reduce performance of Di‑Bak Di‑Bak Parkinsonia will be a naturally occurring dieback seed production is another Parkinsonia is influenced useful tool for landholders.” in parkinsonia, which raised key management technique. by local conditions, with Di‑Bak Parkinsonia is the possibility of using “As with any weed control treatment more effective in commercially available native soil pathogens to program, it’s important that hotter environments. to producers through help contain the weed. producers are clear about “As with all biological control BioHerbicides Australia. ■ Di‑Bak Parkinsonia is now their objectives in taking approaches, results are not available after years of action. For instance, they instant and can take months Cameron Allan collaborative research and need to identify whether before the disease takes T: 02 6301 1204 trials by the University of they want to keep clean hold and kills the plant,” bioherbicides.com.au Queensland, BioHerbicides country clean, or reduce Cameron said. 10