Fireweed is now established in eastern areas on the Northern Tablelands.

A serious pasture weed on the east coast of Australia, and originally from south eastern Africa, fireweed produces pyrrolizidine alkaloids and livestock that eat it get liver damage, which causes loss in condition and can lead to death. The damage is irreversible and gets worse the more fireweed consumed. Cattle and horses are more prone to this than sheep and goats.

Identification

Fireweed flowers are small, bright yellow, daisy-like with usually 13 petals. Leaves are bright green, fleshy and narrow. Seeds are light, fluffy and easily carried long distances by the wind, and shorter distances by livestock. In a season each plant can produce up to 30,000 seeds.
Fireweed is a highly invasive and opportunistic weed which can quickly colonize disturbed areas, including roadside and overgrazed pastures. To reduce introducing new fireweed to your property, do not purchase hay, silage or grain produced in contaminated areas and always check feedout areas and paddocks for fireweed plants.

Fireweed can be controlled through hand pulling (as plants are shallow rooted), chemical application, grazing strategically (sheep and goats can graze for short periods where other feed is available in pasture) and pasture management. A pasture with at least 90% ground cover is far less susceptible to invasion by fireweed.

For help with weed identification and management please contact the New England Weeds Authority Biosecurity Officers (Weeds) on 67703602, call into their office at 2/129 Rusden St Armidale, follow their facebook site or visit www.newa.com.au.