Farmers in the Hawkesbury region are currently grappling with a critical challenge as reports confirm an alarming surge in glyphosate-resistant fleabane. This invasive weed, which has rapidly adapted to local conditions, is now wreaking havoc across paddocks, roadsides, and river flats in New South Wales.
Agricultural experts warn that the presence of fleabane is costing local producers both time and money while competing with essential crops for moisture and nutrients. According to Phil Burkitt, a horticulturalist based in the Hawkesbury, “Fleabane has become one of the most difficult weeds to manage on-farm. Resistance to glyphosate means farmers need to combine multiple control strategies — not just rely on spraying.”
Fleabane belongs to the Conyza genus, with six species now naturalized in NSW, including the prevalent Flaxleaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis), which can grow up to one meter tall. Its deep taproot complicates removal, while each plant can produce over 100,000 seeds that are easily distributed by wind or cling to animals and equipment.
Local farmers report that fleabane is spreading rapidly along properties and fence lines, worsening in recent seasons. “It’s not just a problem for farmers — it’s turning up in native regrowth areas too,” Burkitt added, highlighting the weed’s impact on native species in river and revegetation sites.
As the situation escalates, farmers are advocating for an integrated weed management approach. This includes combining targeted herbicides, cultivation strategies, competitive cropping, and maintaining ground cover to thwart fleabane’s seed-setting capabilities.
The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. With the weed threatening both agricultural productivity and local ecosystems, community control efforts are essential. Local regeneration groups are actively monitoring fleabane’s spread in bushland and river corridors to mitigate its impact.
For more information on managing weeds and biosecurity, visit the DPI NSW website, which provides vital resources for identifying, reporting, and controlling invasive plants.
Farmers and agricultural workers are encouraged to stay vigilant and implement these strategies immediately to combat this growing threat. The fight against fleabane is not just about crops—it’s about preserving the integrity of the entire ecosystem in the Hawkesbury region.
