Australian Farmers Showcase Global Leadership in Weed Management

According to a recent report, weed control costs for the grain and cotton industries still amount to USD 4.43 billion annually, but these investments yield long-term returns. The latest national assessment is based on research by CSIRO, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC). “Weed control remains one of the largest annual expenses for producers, but the investments are paying off,” said Rick Llewellyn, a CSIRO researcher and co-author of the report led by Jackie Ouzman. By staying ahead of weed seedbank development, resistance, and adopting smarter, targeted methods—such as pre-emergence herbicides, weed seed control, crop rotation, and precision technologies like camera-assisted spraying—producers ensure long-term profitability. A key achievement is improved weed control on summer fallows, which helps preserve valuable soil moisture and supports better crop establishment in dry seasons, a ...