APAL Future Orchards® Incubator Trial’s for 2025

Review of current and alternative weed control treatments in Pome Orchards in WA

Pomewest has successfully attained funding to undertake APAL Future Orchards® Trial Incubator for 2025. The Future Orchards® Trial Incubator is a small-scale research program aimed at responding to emerging issues and enabling growers to explore new concepts on-farm and learn valuable skills along the way.

This survey will assist in the investigation into alternative weed control treatments.

Could you please take a moment to answer the following questions?

Thank you in advance for your involvement.

Question Title

1. What are your most difficult weed species to manage in the Orchard?

Kikuyu

Wireweed

Turnip

Anything near a waterway

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. Generally, how are weeds introduced to the property?

Wind borne from neighbouring pasture

Equipment and machinery movement

Potting media when planting new trees, contaminated inputs

From straw or hay used as mulch

Existing seed bank from prior land use

Other (please specify)

Question Title

3. What management options do you have in place

Chemical

Mechanical

Organic

Other (please specify)

Question Title

4. What chemical options do you currently use?

Glyphosate (Roundup®, Group 9)

Glufosinate (Basta®, Group 10)

Paraquat/Diquat (Sprayseed, Group 22)

Flumioaxazin (Flumin 500®, Valor®, Chateau®, Terrain®, Group 14)

Chlorthal (Dacthal® – recently banned, Group 3)

High concentration nitric acid/urea

Organic product (Slasher®)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

5. Do you rely on which mode of action/group for chemical control?

Contact herbicide

Selective

Non-selective

Pre-emergent

Residual

Other (please specify)

Question Title

6. What equipment do you use to apply herbicide, what water rate do you use, and how many sprays during the year?

Question Title

7. What options do you use for ‘gentle chemistry’ or light weed pressure?

Question Title

8. What options do you see as ‘harder, last resort’ chemistry or weed pressure?

Question Title

9. Do you use any of the following integrated weed management or non-chemical techniques?

Livestock

Sowing a cover crop

Spot spraying

Beneficial insects or mites

Flaming (burning)

Slashing/Mowing

Cultivation

Physical barrier such as weed matting or mulch

Other (please specify)

Question Title

10. Are you concerned that there may be fewer chemical options in the future to control problem weeds?

Yes, actively looking for alternative options

Yes, but don't see any other feasible options

No, they surely can't ban everything

Other (please specify)

Question Title

11. Thank you for your participation, would you be willing to host the trial in your orchard?

Yes - I will provide my name and number in comment box below

Name and Mobile Number here

APAL Future Orchards® Incubator Trial’s for 2025

Review of current and alternative weed control treatments in Pome Orchards in WA

Question Title

* 1. What are your most difficult weed species to manage in the Orchard?

Question Title

* 2. Generally, how are weeds introduced to the property?

Question Title

* 3. What management options do you have in place

Question Title

* 4. What chemical options do you currently use?

Question Title

* 5. Do you rely on which mode of action/group for chemical control?

Question Title

* 6. What equipment do you use to apply herbicide, what water rate do you use, and how many sprays during the year?

Question Title

* 7. What options do you use for ‘gentle chemistry’ or light weed pressure?

Question Title

* 8. What options do you see as ‘harder, last resort’ chemistry or weed pressure?

Question Title

* 9. Do you use any of the following integrated weed management or non-chemical techniques?

Question Title

* 10. Are you concerned that there may be fewer chemical options in the future to control problem weeds?

Question Title

* 11. Thank you for your participation, would you be willing to host the trial in your orchard?

1. What are your most difficult weed species to manage in the Orchard?

2. Generally, how are weeds introduced to the property?

3. What management options do you have in place

4. What chemical options do you currently use?

5. Do you rely on which mode of action/group for chemical control?

6. What equipment do you use to apply herbicide, what water rate do you use, and how many sprays during the year?

7. What options do you use for ‘gentle chemistry’ or light weed pressure?

8. What options do you see as ‘harder, last resort’ chemistry or weed pressure?

9. Do you use any of the following integrated weed management or non-chemical techniques?

10. Are you concerned that there may be fewer chemical options in the future to control problem weeds?

11. Thank you for your participation, would you be willing to host the trial in your orchard?