Watch for this weed
CHB farmers and landowners are being urged to keep an eye out for an aggressive pest plant spreading in the region.
Yellow bristle grass (YBG) was discovered by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council pest plant advisors in areas around Wairoa last month, mostly on roadsides and in cropping paddocks.
The pest plant spreads rapidly and reduces pasture quality, because it is unpalatable to stock after the seed heads emerge from January into autumn.
Animals avoid it, which means pasture is underutilised
Once established, yellow bristle grass is difficult to control.
It is spread by mowers and other machinery, stock, contaminated hay, maize, silage, effluent or by moving soil.
“It’s essential that all landowners keep up their biosecurity hygiene practices to clean equipment and vehicles moving off their properties. It will help slow the spread of this sort of plant,” said HBRC pest plant advisor Alice McNatty.
Yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) is an upright plant with yellowgreen leaves about 25-45 cm high.
It can be difficult to identify until it produces seed heads which turn golden brown. Until then it can be confused with other bristle and sticky headed grasses.
HBRC recommends farmers check DairyNZ’s guide about yellow bristle grass on their website, dairynz.co.nz, which includes comparisons with other grasses.
Farmers should contact the regional council’s pest advisors for assistance with identifying any suspect plant and to get advice about control options.