Across South Australia, roadside weeds are becoming an increasing challenge for grain growers. Weeds like flaxleaf fleabane and feathertop Rhodes grass don’t respect fence lines, they spread easily, often harbouring stronger herbicide resistance than those found on-farm. Left unchecked, they can quickly undo even the best onfarm weed management efforts.

Recognising that roadside weeds are everyone’s problem, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in a new three-year project designed to bring people together to tackle the issue collaboratively.

The NGN Roadside Weed Control – From Both Sides of the Fence project, led by Cross Country Management (CCM), will focus on developing practical, community-based approaches that reduce weed resistance and improve coordination across government agencies, councils, growers and other landholders.

“This project came about through roadside weeds being identified as a key priority at National Grower Network forums in Warooka and Langhorne Creek,” said GRDC Grower Relations Manager – South, Rebekah Starick. “Given the complexity of managing these problem weeds, it was important to develop a solution that involved multiple stakeholders. This project will build on learnings from the Area Wide Weed Management project led by CSIRO and aims to demonstrate a sustainable way forward for roadside weed management.”

Understanding both sides of the fence

Roadside weed management involves multiple stakeholders, councils, government departments, growers, contractors, and community members, each with different responsibilities, regulations, and priorities. This complexity often makes it difficult to achieve consistent and timely management, creating opportunities for resistant weeds to spread.

Workshops, stakeholder interviews, and herbicide resistance testing will underpin the project’s activities, aiming to:

• Improve understanding of roadside weed resistance and current management practices

• Clarify roles and responsibilities across the system

• Identify and test best-practice approaches that balance weed control, safety, and environmental outcomes

• Deliver case studies and recommendations that can be applied across Australia’s grain-growing regions

Science, collaboration and community at the core

Herbicide resistance testing, led by Dr Peter Boutsalis of Plant Science Consulting, will provide credible local data to inform practical recommendations. By combining scientific insight with local knowledge, the project will identify the most problematic weeds and the most effective control methods.

Importantly, the project will also explore vegetation and management strategies that reduce weed spread while supporting biodiversity and soil health, aligning with GRDC’s national Weed Management Initiative (WMI).

Led by Cross Country Management

Cross Country Management Principal Consultant Paige Cross will lead the delivery of the project. A qualified agronomist and experienced facilitator, Paige brings practical insight into weed management and a strong background in stakeholder engagement.

“Effective weed control doesn’t stop at the farm gate,” Paige said. “By working from both sides of the fence, we can strengthen collaboration between Councils, growers, and government, ensuring roadside management contributes to, rather than undermines, on-farm weed control.”

Get involved

Consultation workshops will begin in early 2026 across the pilot regions. Growers, councils, contractors, and community members are encouraged to take part and share their perspectives.

To register your interest in being part of the workshops, visit www.crosscountrymanagement.com.au or contact [email protected].

The NGN Roadside Weed Control – From Both Sides of the Fence is an investment of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). It is led by Cross Country Management.