ROUNDUP Ready canola has enabled western Victoria grower Peter Hawkins to successfully control increasing populations of selective herbicide-resistant ryegrass.
Mr Hawkins runs a 1800ha mixed farming operation at Neuarpurr, northwest of Edenhope, with his parents, Mac and Joyce.
He sowed Nuseed variety GT61 last year on 150ha that was unable to support any other crop due to heavy pressure from ryegrass.
"In the past, we've been reliant on the use of selective herbicides in our irrigation and broadacre cropping program," he said.
"So, naturally, our resistant ryegrass populations are increasing exponentially.
"The Roundup Ready technology has played a pivotal role in allowing us to use the chemical to great effect."
Mr Hawkins was also pleased with the effectiveness of Roundup Ready on radish, describing its control as "exceptional".
He was impressed by GT61's early vigour and was expecting a good yield after the crop was dry-sown early in the season.
"With the combination of early sowing, warm ground and the variety itself, the canola really took off," he said.
"That was the exciting thing - it just bounced out of the ground.
"As a precaution, we buy all our seed treated to cover us against any unforeseen disease or insect pressure.
Mr Hawkins was conscious of getting the first application of Roundup on early, so as not to be under pressure for the second spray, which went on prior to the six-leaf stage.
"We were lucky enough to get the second hit on before it got too wet and that just wiped out the exposed ryegrass," he said.
Previously, growing oaten hay crops had been the main weapon in ryegrass control, in addition to spray-grazing.
"We will still use those techniques, but I feel you can get on top of it quicker with a combination of things," Mr Hawkins said.
