Velvetleaf invasion continues

Velvetleaf sightings should be reported to MPI.

Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group is watching with interest the increasing tonnage of supplementary feeds being imported.

This, at a time, when there is leftover maize and cereal feed grain which could be consumed by these sectors for an equally competitive price.

Maize harvest has begun in the North Island and in many cases they have had an exceptional growing season but the low dairy payout and cheap price of palm kernel expeller have meant they don't have a home for the product.

Some, meanwhile, are burning the maize in the paddock and writing the season off.

Imported feeds risk bringing in new weeds, pests and diseases. While New Zealand has import health standards to try to manage these risks, sometimes things slip through the cracks.

Since February, Federated Farmers has been working with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), other pastoral sector industry bodies (Foundation of Arable Research, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb) and regional councils in the velvetleaf incursion.

Velvetleaf is one of the world's worst cropping weeds, competing with crops for nutrients, space and water and was first found in a North Canterbury fodder beet crop in February.

Investigations are ongoing, but the incursion appears to have originated from a contamination of imported fodder beet seed as the number of affected farms throughout New Zealand has increased steadily.

Federated Farmers urges farmers to check their planted fodder beet crops for the presence of velvetleaf. Those who have planted Kyros or Bangor varieties should be particularly vigilant.

Velvetleaf is distinctive, growing above the fodder beet, with yellow flowers from spring to autumn and large, heart-shaped leaves that are velvety to touch.

Though it may be tempting to pull velvetleaf out of the fodder beet and chuck it down the dead hole, Federated Farmers urges farmers to report suspected findings to MPI's Pest and Disease hotline 0800809966.

MPI will make arrangements for removing the plants, inspect the rest of the crop to ensure there are no more plants and then together with FAR, DairyNZ have developed a farm management plan to manage the velvetleaf to prevent it being moved around the farm or out the gate.

- Philippa Rawlinson is Federated Farmers' Arable Industry Group adviser