The African Lovegrass Control Program:

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

Program details

• The spot spraying of African Lovegrass infestations on properties is conducted by a contractor employed by PIRSA.
• The spot spraying contractors' charges and chemical costs are paid in full by PIRSA and the LC Landscape Board.
• The herbicide used is flupropanate.
• Where possible works will occur prior to seed set and contractors will follow best practice weed and equipment hygiene to prevent infestations being spread.
• To be eligible for assistance your property must be located within the priority area (see map).
• Participating landholders will be required to grant access, guide operations and manage stock accordingly.
• Landholders are responsible for adhering to withholding periods for stock grazing (up to 14 days) and replanting (up to 4 months) if using fluproponate.
• By signing up to the African Lovegrass Control Program, landholders are requested to follow-up any contracted spot spraying with their own control efforts. These efforts will be taken into consideration for inclusion in the second year (FY24/25) of the program.
• 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 lovgrass 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.
• 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 will be contingent on landholders implementing follow-up control works and adoption of best practice management.

When will the control take place?

This season the control program will run from January to March 2024.

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

A priority zone to control African Lovegrass has been identified for the 2023-24 control season between Ngarkat National Park and the Dukes Highway (see map below).

Established African lovegrass infestations in cropping and pasture situations will be prioritised along the southern and western border of Ngarkat National Park to protect the park and high value agricultural areas in the Northern Limestone Coast region.

Sign up has now closed for the African Lovegrass Control Program.

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

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