Agronomist Greg Condon. Photo: WeedSmart

THE NORTHERN Riverina is playing host to WeedSmart Week 2026 with a program kicking off on August 18 at Griffith.

The program will include explanation and inspection of summer fallow weed-management practices that have improved the reliability of dryland cropping in the low-rainfall region, where growers are keeping weed numbers low through effective seedbank management in the face of herbicide resistance challenges.

“The Riverina has a unique and varied agricultural landscape where horticulture, viticulture, rice, cotton and dryland grain production intersect,” WeedSmart extension agronomist Greg Condon said.

“For the broadacre cropping enterprises, this brings with it some significant challenges for weed management and herbicide use, but these challenges have driven much of the weed-management innovation in the region.”

Mr Condon said herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass, fleabane, sowthistle, Jersey cudweed and feathertop Rhodes grass are the main targets for growers.

“A number of these persistent summer weeds have evolved herbicide resistance, with seeds moving between irrigated and dryland landscapes.”

“Innovations in herbicide application technology, including weed detection and spot-spraying, alternative herbicide programs, and more diverse farming systems have been critical to tackle the challenges of herbicide resistant weeds in a low-rainfall cropping zone.”

Week vital for extension

WeedSmart Week plays an important role in extending practical and science-backed weed management tactics and grower innovations throughout the industry.

Project manager Karen Smith said the WeedSmart Week event in August will showcase the successful implementation of both sustainable herbicide use and non-herbicide practices that underpin low-weed cotton and grain-farming systems in the Riverina.

“The two-day event will delve into how Riverina growers have adopted diverse weed management strategies to expand their crop options,” Ms Smith said.

“Just as importantly, the presentations and farm visits will also open up future-looking discussions about some challenges that are ahead for all growers.”

WeedSmart Week begins with the forum day at the Griffith Regional Theatre on Tuesday, August 18, while the following day will include a bus tour to local farms, seeding tactic response trials, and a machinery expo.

An optional third day offers tours of either dryland farming systems, or weed-management innovation in irrigated systems.

Mr Condon said the whole program will centre on how growers have implemented the WeedSmart Big 6 pillars to conserve soil moisture over summer, and optimise water efficiency to remain profitable despite variable climatic conditions.

“The forum program is built around the WeedSmart Big 6, with respected growers and agronomists sharing their knowledge and experience.

“Spray technology, mixed farming, soil amelioration and herbicide management adjacent to sensitive crops and other areas in the Riverina will provide food for thought for both local and visiting growers and agronomists.”

The field tour on Day 2 involves visits to farms in the Rankins Springs area, where growers will outline how they are dealing with resistant weeds in fallow, spray drift, evolving rotations, optical spot-spraying, autonomy and managing risk in a low-rainfall cropping zone.

The bus tour will also visit field trials conducted by Ag Grow Agronomy and Research’s Barry Haskins  comparing seedling establishment tactics to improve crop competition in lentils on sandy soils.

The machinery expo will feature the latest in spray and camera technology, impact mills, and other mechanical weed control tools.

This flagship annual event attracts growers, farm workers, agronomists and students from all mainland states, highlighting the practical nature of the event.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with WeedSmart’s industry sponsors who will showcase their weed-management tools at the forum and the machinery expo.

The interim program and registration can be accessed via the WeedSmart website, with the early bird single ticket price of $300 available until June 30, or $350 from July 1, while the optional Day 3 bus tours are priced from $75 per person.

“This will be the thirteenth WeedSmart Week event and is made possible through the support of the GRDC as the major investment partner and a wide range of herbicide and machinery companies, all with skin in the weed control game,” Ms Smith said.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is a platinum supporter of WeedSmart, and its investment ensures growers can access world-class research outcomes and strategies to mitigate weeds and control herbicide resistance.

“Growers and advisors from other areas are encouraged to take advantage of GRDC’s financial support for study tours to attend events such as WeedSmart Week.”

Source: WeedSmart