Blue Heliotrope is a challenging weed to control in any season, let alone off the back of prolonged drought.
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Form your own Blue Heliotrope Control Plan with a new full workshop package from Hunter Local Land Services, filmed on-farm at the Bates family's Merriwa beef property "Kingslyn" in the Upper Hunter.
"This workshop package full of advice is designed to replace an autumn workshop Hunter Local Land Services had to postpone due to COVID restrictions," said Sustainable Agriculture Officer Sarah Giblin.
"This video includes expert advice on the range of tools available for managing this aggressive and persistent weed that is encroaching on more and more agricultural land in our region.
"Drought recovery is when weed management work really gets serious, weeds are basically space invaders and if there is a space, because of lack of groundcover, weeds will grow their quickly - if you have noticed a blue haze and pungent smell in some areas of the Upper Hunter in recent months, that weed is blue heliotrope."
This Blue Heliotrope control toolbox package is the culmination of a five year program where the Bates family consulted LLS Ag Extension officer, Sarah Giblin and agronomist, Bob Freebairn.
In the video, they discuss the results of the LLS partnership herbicide demonstration with local agronomist, Dan Clydsdale, get a close-up look at tropical grasses with Sarah, and hear tips from Col Bates on where to focus your plan of attack.
For the full toolbox of advice on forming your plan of attack for this "space invader" follow this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5ocrozMIxo
The associated Blue Heliotrope Factsheet is also available at https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1220929/280420-blue-heliotropev4.pdf