Many cotton pests use weeds as an alternative host prior to moving into crops. Controlling weeds on farm helps to minimise pest species numbers.

• Weeds on the farm and in areas of native vegetation can provide a host for pests and diseases.
• Cotton volunteers and ratoons are a host for cotton pests and diseases.
• Maintaining healthy native vegetation helps to reduce weed recruitment.
• Overgrazing areas of native vegetation can encourage the spread of weeds by removing competition from native species.

Management Actions
> Be on the lookout for new weed populations and control them before they can spread.
> Map and monitor weeds so that the effectiveness of your weed management program can be monitored and modified.
> Control cotton volunteers and ratoons, preferable before cotton crops emerge.
> Work with neighbours to control weeds.
> Be careful spraying herbicide in native vegetation as some species are sensitive to herbicides. Other weed control options such as spot spraying or chipping may be better.
> Follow up control of weeds each year to minimise re-establishment.
> Careful use of grazing methods, such as time control grazing, can minimise soil disturbance and protect native understorey species during establishment.
> Practice ‘come clean go clean’ guidelines and minimising vehicle movement in native vegetation to reduce spread of weed seeds, pests and diseases.
> Contact your local weeds officer for advice on control of weeds in sensitive areas such as along waterways, creeks and rivers.

Bladder ketmia (Hibiscus trionum) is a host weed for the cotton pest Rough Bollworm (Earias huegeliana Gaede). Photo: L. Wilson

Control weeds in areas of native vegetation to reduce pest habitat. Photo: T. Smith

Grazing weeds while they are flowering can reduce seed set and hence their populations, however avoid grazing during periods of native vegetation flowering and seed set. Photo: M. Hobson