The African Lovegrass Control Program:

The African Lovegrass Control Program supports landholders with free spraying of African lovegrass infestations on their properties.

Program details

• The spraying of African lovegrass infestations on properties is conducted by a contractor employed by PIRSA.
• The spraying contractors' charges and chemical costs are paid in full by PIRSA and the LC Landscape Board.
• The herbicide used is flupropanate and glyphosate. The directions for use and label information for the herbicides can be found on the following links;
  • Flupropanate directions for use
  • Glyphosate directions for use
• Where possible works will occur prior to seed set and contractors will follow best practice weed and equipment hygiene to prevent infestations being spread.
• Consideration for assistance will be prioritised in consultation with landholders, contractors, LC Landscape Board and PIRSA. Factors for consideration will include;
  · Size and number of infestations on property.
  · Efforts previously to undertake own control on property.
  · Proximity to hotspot areas (see heat map in hot spot areas) with the upper Limestone Coast being the priority control area.
  · Access to property and permission to use available chemical control methods.
• Participating landholders will be required to grant access, guide operations and manage stock accordingly.
• Landholders are responsible for adhering to herbicide withholding periods for stock grazing.
• By signing up to the African Lovegrass Control Program, landholders are requested to follow-up any contracted spraying with their own control efforts.
• The level of assistance provided to each landholder will be determined in consultation with the landholder.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board and PIRSA will:

• Treat priority infestations of African lovegrass within property boundaries.
• Coordinate activities with contractors.
• Use information about properties involved in the program only for the purposes of delivering the project and project reporting. All commercial information will remain confidential.
• Engage suitably qualified contractors who will control African lovegrass in accordance with safe chemical use, codes of practice and agronomic standards.
• Consult with landholders in relation to access and activities that affect you.
• Obtain relevant approvals where required.

To be included in the African Lovegrass Control Program, landholders are required to:

• Consent for accredited operators to apply chemical control using approved methods e.g., spot spraying and boom spraying.
• Provide guidance to locations of African Lovegrass infestations.
• Facilitate access to infested sites.
• Provide farm safety and biosecurity inductions as required.
• Manage stock movements such as withholding periods following chemical application.
• Report on the success of spot spraying activities if requested.
• Acknowledge that any future support may be contingent on landholders implementing follow-up control works and adoption of best practice management.

When will the control take place?

The landholder assistance will be undertaken in the Summer 2025 - 26 to Autumn 2026 depending on seasonal conditions.

The characteristics of the infestation and the property will determine the level of assistance:

The Program will cover the entire Limestone Coast, with the priority being the upper Limestone Coast. This will increase the scale and effectiveness of the program including as many landholders and covering as many hectares as possible.

This will increase the scale and effectiveness through a coordinated control approach including as many landholders and covering as many hectares as possible.

Established African lovegrass infestations in cropping and pasture situations will be prioritised in the upper Limestone Coast to protect high value agricultural areas in the northern Limestone Coast region.

Since January 2021, the Limestone Coast Landscape Board has significantly increased efforts to control African lovegrass across the region providing direct benefit to over 230 affected landholders adjoining roadsides. The African lovegrass program during 2024 - 2025 covered over 50,000 hectares.

The below heatmap demonstrates the mapping of known African lovegrass infestations across the Limestone Coast. This information supports the planning and allocation of funds for the landholder assistance program.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board in partnership with PIRSA welcome landholders to a free half-day workshop to learn more about managing the local priority weed, African lovegrass.

Where - Tintinara Town Hall, 49 Becker Terrace, Tintinara SA

When – Thursday 16 October 2025 8 am to 11 am

Commencing at 8.00 am with a free bacon and egg breakfast and workshop beginning at 8:30 am.

This half day workshop will support landholders in their African lovegrass control efforts to treat infestations on their properties. This session will include:

• Details of the landholder assistance for the African Lovegrass Control Program commencing in summer 2025-26. Opportunity to sign up to program on the day.
• Explanation of the results from the demonstration site including chemicals used and resistance testing.
• African lovegrass control methods and complementary management approaches such as fire, stock grazing and chemical application options.
• New herbicides and spraying techniques.
• Guest speakers.

Register your attendance today

Sign up is now open to landholders for assistance from the African Lovegrass Control Program.

Applications close at 5 pm on 31 October 2025 for inclusion in the Program.

Resources will be allocated dependent on contractor availability to ensure as many landholders as possible receive assistance within the spraying season. Signing up does not guarantee involvement in the program.

If you would like to discuss African lovegrass control in your area, please contact your local Landscape Officer from the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.