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Milton Rural Landcare Inc. |
A member of the Daisy family, and this plant is toxic to livestock, particularly cattle and horses.
Of variable habits it can be an annual or short-lived perennial.
Only 10cm to 50 cm high, capable of quickly invading pasture lands, especially overgrazed or neglected areas, or land cultivated or disturbed during autumn to spring.
This is all the noxious weeds pamphlet has to say about the dreaded fireweed but to local Milton farmers it is an expensive burden in chemicals or costs of Council inspections. Many farmers walk their land everyday in the peak periods checking and can be caught out by only 4 plants that came out the sunny day after heavy rain. In winter this plant is a local menace wherever there's a clearing.
Our group has worked to provide raised awareness through a slogan and poster competition held in May 1999 and a newspaper campaign throughout the fireweed peak period.
The NSW Dept of Agriculture has an extensive page on fireweed and its management/control.
