Worksheets Property

Worksheets Worksheet 1—Property resource description Overall enterprise description and land use Property history     Land-use changes Fire history Flood history Date when weeds and pest animals (which may contribute to present conditions) were introduced Current land use    Major land or soil types Stock-carrying capacity Cropping (Can also be base map overlays) General property details Items and attributes      Permits/licences/approvals Agreements Easements Developmental controls (e.g. local government planning conditions) State interests (main roads, national parks, stock routes, reserves) (Can also be base map overlays) Specific property details Climate   Average annual rainfall Average temperature Threats to property assets      Weeds—area and density Pest animals—area and density Plague pests (e.g. mice, locusts)—areas Climatic conditions (e.g. drought, flooding, erosion) Floodlines (Can also be base map overlays) Worksheet 2a—Main weed infestation problems Overview of species on property What weeds are on the property? List one per column How long have they been there? (If known) How were they transferred to your property? (If known) Weed 1 Weed 2 Weed 3 What are their distributions and density? Display on base map overlay Do they pose a threat to other areas within the property? Mark these areas on the map overlay (optional) Are they costing you money in lost productivity? If so, what is the approximate cost? Are they affecting your/your family’s/your staff’s health? If so, how? Are they affecting the environment? If so, how? Are they affecting your neighbours? If so, how? Worksheet 2a—Main weed infestation problems (cont’d) Biology How do they spread? Weed 1 Weed 2 Weed 3 When do they flower/seed/reproduce? For how long are the seeds viable? When is the best time to carry out control programs? When is the latest possible time to do this (e.g. before seeding; before they become poisonous to stock)? Priority in local area Are there any laws requiring you to control the weeds? Are these weeds a priority in your local government area? Control and management methods What are your current weed treatment programs? Are you happy with the results you are getting from them? Are your control programs consistent with up to date recommended practices? What restrictions if any apply to the current control methods? (e.g. do you require clearing permits, chemical buffer zones to creeks etc?) How do you currently check current weed infestations? What actions if any could you take to utilise the weed as part of your management program? e.g. purchase camels to complement prickly acacia grubbing. Weed hygiene What are your current weed hygiene practices? Are they working? Do you need to change them to prevent existing weeds from spreading and new ones from emerging? New weed threats Do any neighbouring weeds pose a threat to your property? Are any of your garden or pasture plants identified potential environmental weeds? Worksheet 2b—Main pest animal problems Overview of species on property What pest animal problems are there on your property? Pest animal 1 Pest animal 2 Pest animal 3 What damage are the pests causing? Where is this occurring? Display as an overlay on the base map. Biology When do the species reproduce? Refer to the biology calendar as a guide. Is there a critical time for carrying out control programs? (e.g. foxes should be baited 4–6 weeks before lambing; wild dogs should be baited in the autumn when they are mating, and again in the spring when there are pups around). Local priorities Are there any laws requiring you to control the pest animals? Are they a priority in your local government area? Is the pest a new one identified under the local government area pest management plan? Worksheet 2b—Main pest animal problems (cont’d) Control and management methods What control methods are you currently using? Pest animal 1 Pest animal 2 Pest animal 3 Are they consistent with up-to- date recommended practices? What restrictions, if any, apply to them (e.g. no baiting within two kilometres of a house or public utility)? Are you coordinating control with neighbouring properties? If not, is it possible to begin doing so? Are the pest animals particularly damaging any areas (e.g. pigs in waterholes, wild dogs in calf paddocks etc.)? How do you currently check pest animal damage and numbers? What actions, if any, could you take to utilise the pest animal as part of your management program? e.g. sell feral pigs for pet food trade. New threats Are there any neighbouring pest animals that pose a threat to your property? Are there any in the local area that do so? Do you need to learn more about them? Worksheet 2c—Main plague pest problems Overview of species on property Plague pest 1 Plague pest 2 Plague pest 3 What plague pest problems threaten your property from time to time? What damage do they cause and where? Display as an overlay on base map Biology When do they reproduce? Refer to biology calendar as a guide When is the best time to carry out control programs? When should you start monitoring for activity? Priority in local area Are there any legislative requirements for you to control plague pest problems? Are these pests a priority in your local government area? Continued on next page Worksheet 2c—Main plague pest problems (cont’d) Control/management methods What are your current control programs? Plague pest 1 Plague pest 2 Plague pest 3 Are the methods you use up-to-date recommended practices? What restrictions if any apply to the current control methods? (e.g. requirements for chemical buffer zones adjacent to creeks, stock withholding periods) Are you coordinating control programs with neighbouring properties? If not, is it possible to begin doing so? Are there any areas where plague pests can be particularly damaging? How do you currently check or monitor for plague pest damage and numbers? Worksheet 3—Pest species priorities Pest Location Priority (low, medium or high) Worksheet 4—Available resources Available resources People Person/company Skills Operational budget Supplementary funding Grants/loans/incentives Equipment Owned Equipment Hired or borrowed Worksheet 5—Pest management property goals Vision (Example—To manage pests on the property to maintain its productive capacity and to protect its land, water biodiversity and cultural heritage). Goals (general, not specific) Examples:  Eradicate siam weed to protect native vegetation  Contain parthenium by improving pasture management.  Reduce the impact of rubbervine on native vegetation.  Reduce the impact of feral pigs on property watercourses. Worksheet 6a (example)—Pest management targets and proposed actions Pest species—Prickly acacia: Location—Whole of property: Priority—High Targets (desired level of control) Short term (first year) Control 100% of prickly acacia along fence lines and water facilities Management actions Build washdown pad on property Survey paddock, stock access routes, and water points Basal bark scattered infestations before seed set Fence off prickly acacia from stock Grub thick infestations in first year Overall spray all new seedlings Who TJ,CD,LP CD,LP TJ TJ Contractor Contractor CD CD,LP CD,LP CD JD When Dec 2006 Mar and June 2007 Mar to May 2007 Mar 2007 May to Sept 2007 June 2007 Sept 2007 as required Sept 2007 Sept 2007 Nov 2007 Cost $1500 Nil $150 $5000 $5000 $1200 Nil Nil Nil Nil $5000 Completed Feb 2007 30 Mar to 30 June 30 Apr 30 Mar 31 Aug 30 July 30 Sept as required 15 Oct 30 Sept 28 Nov Medium term (2–5 years) Control 100% of prickly acacia in paddock Long term (6–10 years) No new prickly acacia infestations Hold all new stock in holding paddock for seven days, (with weed hygiene declaration form) Wash down all equipment before starting work Relocate stock from heavily infested paddocks before pod set Reduce stocking rates in infested paddocks to promote pasture growth Purchase 10 camels to complement grubbing Monitoring Carry out annual inspections to determine the density of the pest species, and how much of the property is affected Records     Photo files Records of inspections Records of pesticide applications Records of permit applications Worksheet 6b—Pest management targets and proposed actions Complete a separate worksheet for each pest issue and location if different management is required Pest species Targets (desired level of control) Short term (first year) Location Management actions Priority Who When Cost Completed Medium term (2–5 years) Long term (6–10 years) Monitoring Records Worksheet 7—Yearly action calendar Actions Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec