Australia
May 26, 2016
Two English shoe salesmen were sent to Africa in the late 1800’s to see if there was a market for their product.
The first salesman reported back, “Situation hopeless, no-one wears shoes, returning home immediately.”
The second salesman reported back, “Glorious opportunity, no-one wears shoes.”
Salesman two is the real entrepreneur, the person who sees opportunity where others do not.
Very few grain growers in Queensland or northern NSW use harvest weed seed control. Many feel that most weed seeds shed before harvest so there is little point. Funnily enough, this is what the Americans said, and it turns out their main weeds retain all of their seed at harvest!
A survey of 70 paddocks in 2011 by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) researchers Steve Walker, Michael Widderick and Michelle Keenan has identified a similar ‘glorious opportunity’.
They found excellent seed retention at harvest of several key weed species in winter crops. Seed retention and height of weed seeds in summer crops was not as encouraging, but there are some isolated opportunities here as well.
All that matters is the weed seed bank. And that makes harvest weed seed control even more critical.
Is there a 'glorious opportunity' for harvest weed seed control in the north? We think so…
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