The Environmental Protection Authority NZ (EPA) has this morning announced it has approved the release of a strain of rust fungus to control the spread of the Chilean needle grass, which produces sharp penetrating seeds that can cause blindness in livestock, pelt and carcass damage, as well as loss in pasture quality and grazing access.
Marlborough District Council applied to use the fungus as a biocontrol agent. Read more about the EPA decision here(external link).
AgResearch’s own research has found that if nothing was done to stop the spread of Chilean needle grass, it could spread through most of New Zealand and eventually cost the country over a billion dollars. More about this research here(external link).
AgResearch senior scientist Chris Buddenhagen says the EPA decision is welcome as it provides another tool to address this highly destructive weed, which has taken hold in Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury, and Marlborough.
“The EPA decision gives the opportunity to use this fungus to complement the control efforts already being used against the Chilean needle grass. It will be interesting to see how this biocontrol performs, but it is important that we also keep the foot on the pedal with those existing control methods because the spread of this weed can be highly damaging for our farming sector and New Zealand’s exports.”
“This latest addition to the control methods that are available for Chilean needle grass does demonstrate the value of the ongoing research into these weeds, including their potential spread and the most effective ways to tackle them.”
