This fact sheet is drawn from the RIRDC publication Herbicide Control Options for Setaria in Lucerne (RIRDC publication no. 11/075).
Australian lucerne seed sales to the United States of America are being jeopardised by seed contamination from the weed Setaria verticillata, also called love grass or whorled pigeon grass in southern Australia. Setaria sp. is a prohibited noxious weed in the US, therefore there is nil tolerance by US markets for contaminated pasture seed shipments.
This research has given advisors and growers of lucerne seed a strategy on how to achieve the best possible control of Setaria sp. and minimise seed contamination.