Pimelea

The assessment of Pimelea plants in the field and the approaches used to manage these problem plants

Questionnaire:

The primary goal of this survey being conducted through the University of Queensland (Gatton campus) is to better understand the impacts of Pimelea infestation in pastures, the conditions that favour its establishment, and an understanding of the current management practices adopted to control Pimelea in those pastures. Rashid is an Australian plant scientist undertaking his PhD studies at UQ in the biology and control of Pimelea plant species, and to aid his thesis submission he is undertaking a survey on the ecological circumstances for the appearance of Pimelea in the field and the present methods used for its control.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
Survey title

The assessment of Pimelea plants in the field and the approaches used to manage these problem plants

Investigator: Rashid Saleem, r.saleem@uq.net.au,
Researchers: Professor Steve Adkins, Dr Shane Campbell, Prof Mary Fletcher

What does participation involve?
The anonymous survey will take 15 - 20 minutes to complete. No personal information is collected. You are able to obtain a summary of the survey findings by contacting the investigator at the end of his studies.Please submit your completed survey by Friday 17^th September.

What are the risks in taking part?
There are no foreseeable risks participating in this survey as personal data is not being collected. All data and results will be password protected and only accessible to the research team trained in confidentiality procedures. Furthermore, no individual survey responses will be presented, rather the responses will be pooled and summarised.

Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal from the study
Participation in this research project is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, you do not have to. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to withdraw from the survey at any stage. Your decision whether you take part, or not to take part, will not affect your relationship with the University of Queensland. Once submitted your data cannot be withdrawn.

Privacy and confidentiality
All information collected about you will remain confidential and stored on University computers. It is anticipated that the results of this survey will be published and/or presented in a variety of forms. In any publication and/or presentation, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified.

Who can I speak to if I have any questions?
This study adheres to the guidelines of the ethical review process of The University of Queensland and the National Statement of Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Whilst you are free to discuss your participation in this study with project staff, If you would like to speak to an officer of the University not involved in the study, you may contact the Ethics Coordinator on 61 7 3365 3924/ 61 7 3443 1656 or email humanethics@research.uq.edu.au)

Please print a copy of this page for your records. By continuing to proceed you agree to participate in the survey.

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* 1. Which local government area is your property located within?

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* 2. What agricultural practices do you undertake on your property? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Beef production

Sheep production

Goat production

Crop production

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Are you familiar with toxic Pimelea species?

Yes

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* 4. Which of the following species are most prevalent on your property?

Pimelea simplex (desert rice-flower)

Pimelea trichostachya (flax weed)

Pimelea elongata (lakebed pimelea)

Don't know

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* 5. At which growth stage are you able to identify these Species? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Seedling stage

Immature stage (not flowering)

Mature stage (flowering)

Mature stage (with seeds)

Dead plants (with tufts of seeds)

Never

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* 6. When did you first notice Pimelea on your property?

Never

Less than 5 years ago

5-10 years ago

10-20 years ago

20- 30 years ago

More than 30 years ago

Not sure, I have been managing this property for less than 5 years

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How often do these toxic species appear on your property?

Very often (yearly)

Often (once every 2 to 5 years)

Rarely (less than 5 years)

Never

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* 8. Which season or seasons do you most often see Pimelea on your property? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Summer (Dec-Feb)

Winter (June-Aug)

Spring (Sep- Nov)

Autumn (Mar-May)

In response to more than 50 mm rainfall, regardless of season

None

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* 9. Which of the following events do you think trigger the germination of Pimelea? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

No particular event

Following high rainfall events

Following moderate rainfall events

Following light/low rainfall events

Following a high increase in temperature

Following a moderate increase in temperature

Low temperature

After grading tracks or soil disturbance

When a tillage implement has been used to a depth of greater than 10 cm

When a light implement has been used to a depth of less than 10 cm

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Where does Pimelea prefer to grow and establish? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

On lands previously cultivated

On lands previously burnt

On heavily grazed lands

On soils with low fertility

On soils with high fertility

On acidic soil

On alkaline soil

Only on light red, sandy loams and red, heavy clay soils

No particular situation

Not sure

Other (please state)

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* 11. If you have Pimelea, how do you think it is moved around your property? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Wind

Water movement (irrigation, rainfall, overland water movement)

Animal movement (domesticated and wildlife)

Contaminated seed used in pasture improvement and forage crops

Contaminated farm machinery

Contaminated vehicles

It is not moved around and Pimelea comes up in the same areas when conditions are favourable

Other ways (please state)

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* 12. Currently in 2021, where is Pimelea found on your property? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Along the roads/tracks

Within rangelands/grazing lands

Around the margins of lakes/Ponds/Rivers

Amongst lightly forested areas

On cultivated/cropping lands

On unproductive lands

Nowhere or rarely found

Nowhere

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* 13. Do you consider Pimelea to be a problem on your property?

Yes - a minor problem

Yes - a moderate problem

Yes - a major problem

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* 14. What percentage of your property is infested with Pimelea in years that favour its establishment?

0-10 %

10-20 %

20-30 %

30-40 %

40-50 %

More than 50 %

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* 15. In years when infestations occur on your property, what do you think is the average density of Pimelea plants found in a 1 meter square area?

0-5 plants

5-10 plants

more than 10 plants

Not sure

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* 16. Which enterprise is most affected on your property by Pimelea? (mark as many boxes as apply)

Pasture production (and therefore animal production)

Animal production (due to effects on animal health)

Crops

Other (please specify)

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* 17. If yes, what types of animals are affected on your property? (mark as many boxes as apply)

Sheep

Goats

Cattle

Horses

Other (please specify)

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* 18. In years when Pimelea is prevalent, what is an average mortality rate and what is the estimated financial impact from reduced animal production, providing quality fodder and/or agistment and death of severely affected animals?

Death (Number of animals)

Financial impact (Dollars)

Extra labour time in caring for affected animals (days per year)

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* 19. Have you tried to control Pimelea on your property?

Yes

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* 20. If yes, which method did you use? (mark as many boxes as applicable)

Slashing

Uprooting/cutting/hand pulling

Ploughing/mechanical weeding

Planting forage crops or competitive pastures

Crash grazing young plants

Spell affected paddocks from cattle grazing

Only graze sheep or goats in Pimelea-affected paddocks

Chemicals ( specify which ones)

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* 21. Other techniques (please specify)

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* 22. Have you ever tried to manage Pimelea using a combination of two or more methods (i.e. an integrated approach)?

Yes

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* 23. If yes, which combination of methods worked best for you? (Please specify)

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* 24. Have you ever tried growing improved pasture grasses to help suppress and control Pimelea?

yes

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* 25. If yes name the improved pastures grasses used and indicate if this was a successful approach or not.

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* 26. How much do you spend on your property to control Pimelea per annum? (Dollars or days per year)

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* 27. Overall, what are your thoughts about management of Pimelea?

Very easy to manage

Easy to manage

Difficult to manage

Very difficult to manage

Thank you for participating in this survey. Once the data is analysed, the outcomes will be made available to all who request copies. If you would like to receive a summary of the key findings, please fill in your details below.

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* 28. Details

Address

Email Address