Pest News is an annual newsletter that provides local and regional information about pest issues in Canterbury. There is a separate newletter for each pest district in the region, except Mackenzie and Omarama which do not have pest liaison committees.
Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana)
Chilean needle grass is a major problem for dry hill country farmers in Marlborough and Hawke's Bay. It has also been found on a North Canterbury property - its first known incidence in Canterbury.
Environment Canterbury has declared a small-scale management programme aimed at eradicating the plant pest from the region.
Chilean needle grass produces sharp cork-screw shaped seedheads which catch easily in passing animals particularly sheep and burrow into skin damaging hides and downgrading carcasses. Lambs are particularly vulnerable to seeds penetrating their eyes causing blindness.
It is safer to remove sheep from infested areas between November and March to avoid contact with seeds.
Read the Chilean Needle Grass flyer (pdf 218 kB)
Ashburton
August 2009
Topics include:
- Phragmites
- Old Man's Beard
- Nodding thistle
- Rabbit numbers
- 1080
Read Pest News - Ashburton - August 2009 (pdf 275 kB)
Selwyn
August 2009
Topics include:
- Rabbits
- Gorse & Broom
- 1080
- Old Man's Beard
- Darwin's Barberry
Read Pest News - Selwyn - August 2009 (pdf 382 kB)
Amuri
October 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbit Coordinator
- Gorse & Broom
- 'Sharing' Problem Plants
- Old Man's Beard
- Bovine Tb
Read Pest News - Amuri - October 2008 (pdf 182 kB)
Ashley
October 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbits
- Nassella
- 'Sharing' Problem Plants
- Roadside Plant Pests
- Bovine Tb
Read Pest News - Ashley - October 2008 (pdf 184 kB)
Kaikoura
October 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbit Coordinator
- Nassella
- 'Sharing' Problem Plants
- Old Man's Beard
- Bovine Tb
Read Pest News - Kaikoura - October 2008 (pdf 208 kB)
Waikari
October 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbit Coordinator
- Gorse & Broom
- 'Sharing' Problem Plants
- Bovine Tb
Read Pest News - Waikari - October 2008 (pdf 139 kB)
Kurow
September 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbits
- Gorse & Broom
- Nassella
- Bovine Tb
Read Pest News - Kurow - September 2008 (pdf 168 kB)
Banks Peninsula
July 2008
Topics include:
- Possums
- Gorse & Broom
- Boneseed
- Nassella
Read Pest News - Banks Peninsula - July 2008 (pdf 219 kB)
South Canterbury
July 2008
Topics include:
- Rabbits
- Gorse & Broom
- Knobbled Weevil
- Bovine Tb
- Nassella
Read Pest News - South Canterbury - July 2008 (pdf 197 kB)
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