Three years ago Feathertop Rhodes grass (FTR) started to show signs of resistance in our zero-till farming operation at “Wandina” north of Clermont in Central Queensland. By using sunflower in the rotation, allowing the application of an in-crop Group A herbicide control, and supplementing with conventional tillage, FTR has been nearly eradicated from our operations. Sunflower has held its own, remaining one of the profitable crops grown at “Wandina” during this time.
Purchased in 1979, our mixed enterprise produces dryland sunflower, sorghum, corn, cotton, chickpea and wheat crops using zero-till and Control Traffic Farming systems.
Retaining groundcover is important at “Wandina”. Like other Central Queensland farms, zero-tillage systems have been integral to maintaining and improving our productivity by conserving moisture and protecting topsoil from high-intensity rainfall events. The reliance on glyphosate in cropping fallows, its lack of effectiveness on FTR, combined the weeds’ shallow germination had seen FTR seriously compromise the farming system by 2009. We intervened with a strategic tillage, followed by the re-introduction of sunflower into the rotation, alternated with winter and summer cereals. Using Verdict® in-crop and residual herbicides with occasional inter-row cultivation has resulted in 99% eradication of this problem weed, while maintaining our zero-till system.
In 1985 we developed 2000 acres of country for a sunflower crop which yielded 1/2 ton per acre. Sunflower was worth $430 p/ton on farm in those days and the land was worth $50 p/acre. We have continued to grow sunflower in our rotation when the season and prices are favourable, despite the lack of local bulk handling and significant freight discounts.
In 2013, sunflowers provide a profitable rotation for “Wandina”, but the crop really shines for its role in controlling Feathertop Rhodes grass.