Queensland’s beef industry will face severe consequences if Buffel grass is listed as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS).
The listing could see buffel face legislative restrictions, removal requirements and biological research to eradicate it.
Agforce Queensland has expressed their concerns with the critical pasture species being nominated as a WoNS for not being transparent with beef producers.
Buffel plays a vital role in landscape protection, preventing soil erosion, reducing dust storms and regenerates quickly after a fire.
AgForce Cattle Board President, Lloyd Hick said a decision with such far-reaching consequences cannot be made behind closed doors.
“Buffel is not a weed. It is the backbone of Queensland’s grazing systems. It sustains the production of millions of kg’s of beef that underpin domestic and international food security. Removing access to buffel would cripple the beef industry,” Mr Hick said.
“Restricting seed supply would undermine pasture regeneration, and any move towards biological control would be catastrophic for entire grazing regions.”
Mr Hick said the nomination process has failed to consider the production and financial consequences of its removal.
He said the WoNS listing is part of a broader pattern of decisions being made without industry input.
“The Weeds of National Significance assessment only accounts for a plant’s negative environmental impact, completely disregarding its role in agriculture and broader food security,” Mr Hick said.
“If the beef sector does not push back hard on this, it will be taken as a win and another critical pillar targeted next.”
