Life Sciences Commons^™

Paterson's Curse Management Handbook, Amelia Mclarty, Errol Kruger, Peter Stubbs, John Peirce, Chris Hawkins, Paul Wilson, Simon Merewether

Bulletins 4000 -

Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum) is one of the most damaging weeds to the Australian meat and wool industries. It infests an estimated 33 million hectares in southern Australia, at an annual cost to the sheep industry of $250 million in lost pasture productivity, control costs and wool contamination. In WA, it is found on about 5000 agricultural properties infesting some 500,000 ha. It is an extremely invasive weed, that reduces pasture productivity and stock carrying capacity by competing with and excluding more beneficial pasture species. The weed is also toxic to stock. It is important to implement control measures on …