Velvetleaf Outbreak in New Zealand

Velvetleaf has been found in fodder beet crops across 60 farms nationwide with Southland, Otago and Canterbury the worst affected regions according to MPI (April 2016). The outbreak of velvetleaf has been linked to the imported fodder beet seed varieties, kyros and bangor (NZFarmer, 1 April 2016a). This has sparked a nationwide investigation from MPI and this blog will address what farmers should be aware of in relation to velvetleaf.

What is velvetleaf?

Common names: Velvetleaf, China jute, Butter print, Indian mallow

Scientific name: Abutilon theophrasti

Velvetleaf is an annual broad-leaved herb that grows between 1 and 2.5m tall. It has yellow flowers about 3cm in diameter and these flowers are present from spring through autumn (MPI, April 2016). The leaves are large and heart-shaped and velvety to the touch. The plant has distinctive seedpods with 12-15 segments in a cup-like ring. The seeds can survive for up to 50 years in soil and can germinate in large number in cultivated areas such as field crops (MPI, March 2016). Velvet leaf is native to south Asia and has become a weed in parts of North America, Europe and Australia. Velvet leaf has been in New Zealand since 1948 however, until recently the prevalence of velvet leaf has been minimal (MPI, March 2016). In February 2016, velvetleaf was found on a small number of farms in the South Island and since then, it has been found on several other properties throughout the North and South Island.

Why is velvetleaf a threat to New Zealand agriculture?

Velvetleaf was made an unwanted organism in December 2012 (MPI, March 2016). It is a potential threat to agriculture and is one of the worst broadleaf weeds of maize and soya bean crops in the USA. The worst case scenario for New Zealand farmers would be if it found its way into maize crops (NZFarmer, 1 April 2016a). It has the ponteitlay to remove up to 70% of a crop’s yield (FarmerNZ, 29 March 2016).

What to do if you find velvetleaf on your property?

All farmers who have planted fodder beet seed should check their crops carefully  and regularly for signs of velvetleaf with particular concern for farmers that have planted Kyros and Bangor varieites.

If you find velvetleaf on your property, contact MPI on 0800 80 99 66

Do not pull the plant out. MPI will arrange the removal of the plants.

The fact sheet below provides a guide to biosecurity management of velvetleaf to help control the spread of this pest. Farmers should not remove any plants or allow stock to graze infeted crops. This could spread the seed DairyNZ (2016).

What action is being taken?

Ministry for Primary Industries is working with partner organisations to manage velvetleaf. Their aim is to find it, contain it, and safely remove any plants found. Therefore, it is important that farmers report the weed if it is found on their property.

Velvetleaf in the media

• In 2015 New Zealand imported just under 300 tonnes of fodder beet seed from a range of countries, including Australia, Italy, Denmark, France and other European countries (NZFarmer, 1 April 2016b).
• As of 29 March 2016 velvetleaf has been found in 125 hectares of farmland in Manawatu-Whanganui (NZFarmer, 29 March 2016). The Horizons Regional Council staff have found 252 plants so far across Whanganui, Ruapehu and Horowhenua districts.
•  The government have banned lines of fodder beet seeds grown in Italy and pelleted in Denmark in response to the velvetleaf infestation (NZFarmer, 20 April 2016). Imported consignments will now also required a sign-off by one of the Ministry’s two chief technical officers before they can be released, and all pelleted seed imports will be lab-tested for contaminants.
• More than 105 properties in Canterbury have been found to have velvetleaf as of 20 April 2016.
• Environment Southland and MPI committed to a search and destroy activity in Southland resulting in an investigation of 270 farms as of the 26 April 2016. The search found 189 velvetleaf plants on about 40 farms (NZFarmer, 26 April 2016).

      Velvetleaf Management

REFERENCES

DairyNZ (2016). Velvetleaf. DairyNZ Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/pasture-management/pests-and-weeds/velvetleaf/

MPI (March 2016). Velvetleaf. Ministry for Primary Industries. Retrieved from http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/velvet-leaf

MPI (18 April 2016). Velvetleaf. Ministry for Primary Industries. Retrieved from http://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/responding/alerts/velvetleaf/

NZFarmer (29 March 2016). Velvetleaf found in 125 hectares of Manawatu-Whanganui farmland. NZFarmer. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/78352847/velvetleaf-found-in-125-hectares-of-manawatuwhanganui-farmland

NZFarmer (1 April 2016a). Environment Southland describe velvetleaf outbreak as region’s ‘fruit fly’. NZFarmer. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/78449520/Environment-Southland-describe-velvetleaf-outbreak-as-regions-fruit-fly

NZFarmer (1 April 2016b). Velvetleaf, one of world’s worst weeds, confirmed on three Waikato farms. NZFarmer. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/78135127/velvetleaf-one-of-worlds-worst-weeds-confirmed-on-three-waikato-farms

NZFarmer (20 April 2016). New Zealand bolstering biosecurity in response to Southland velvetleaf outbreak. NZFarmer. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/79120571/new-zealand-bolstering-biosecurity-in-response-to-southland-velvetleaf-outbreak

NZFarmer (26 April, 2016). Velvetleaf search to end at the end of this week. NZFarmer. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/cropping/79315105/velvetleaf-search-to-end-at-the-end-of-this-week.html