PHOTO: A stand of buffel grass at ‘Sandhurst’ during the drought in 2019
Declaring buffel grass a Weed of National Significance (WoNS) is a rushed and poorly informed decision according to a representative of the National Farmers’ Federation.
Buffel grass is a summer-growing perennial species that is widely used in the agricultural industry to feed cattle, due to its durability in times of drought. It was first introduced to Australia in the 1960s and 70s.
In July, buffel grass was officially declared a weed in the Northern Territory after it contributed to the spread of major bushfires in 2023. South Australia declared it a weed in 2015…