Farmers can now measure and, as a result, better manage weeds on their property with the help of a phone app developed by AgResearch.
The "Grassland Cover Estimator App" provides an estimate of the percentage of a paddock that is occupied by a weed.
This enables the productivity lost due to the weed to be calculated and used in a cost-benefit analysis for a proposed control operation.
The app was launched in February and AgResearch Principal Scientist Graeme Bourdȏt said it will have broad appeal among a wide variety of users working directly or indirectly in the pastoral sector, including farmers, regional council biosecurity officers, rural professionals, farm advisors, scientists and students.
"The app has already been downloaded by 45 users across New Zealand, China, UK, France, Germany, USA and Canada."