NEW agricultural technology is set to help local farmers and growers remove harmful seeds from their properties. 

The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board (MRLB) recently held a workshop at Loxton North-based Ridgehill Properties to demonstrate the Aussie Prickle Picker, developed to collect caltrop and three-corner jack seeds from farms and orchards. 

Lowbank and Districts Ag Bureau president Kane Schutz said these seeds reduced grain crop yields and damaged the wool of sheep.  

“I’ve been looking for ways to extract three-corner jack from the paddocks, (and) the prickle picker worked well,” Mr Schutz said. 

“It’s very good for reducing seed numbers in the soil. It’s not a silver bullet but definitely another tool in the shed.

“We know the areas of our paddocks that have three-corner jacks, and if we hire the prickle picker around this time each year, combined with the herbicide program the jacks will become manageable, reducing millions of seed numbers over the years.” 

MRLB senior district officer Jodie Woof said caltrop could spread in low-moisture conditions and germinate from spring until winter. 

“(A) property picked up four 44-gallon drums full of seed from across a 10-hectare area,” Ms Woof said. 

“It is hoped that the prickle roller can be used as another tool in the weed control toolbox to reduce the amount of seed bank in the soil and decrease herbicide use.”