Annual ryegrass with herbicide resistance is now common in southern NSW, according to collaborative research between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recently completed at the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. In studies conducted from Dubbo in the state’s central west, to the Victorian border in the south, and east-west between the Hume and Newell highways, researchers Mr John Broster and Mr Eric Koetz have found high levels of resistance in ryegrass to widely used herbicides. Director of the EH Graham Centre, Professor Deirdre Lemerle, said these findings show a large increase since the last thorough survey was conducted in 1991. “Around 80 per cent of paddocks surveyed in 2007 had significant levels of resistance to Group A ‘fops’ herbicides, while resistance to Group B ‘SU’ herbicides are in 65 to 70 per cent of paddocks.” Professor Lemerle said 17 years ago, only 10 to 15 per cent of paddocks had ryegrass with resistance to these herbicides. “These high levels of resistance reinforce the importance of developing and introducing new non-chemical weed control techniques into our weed management strategies,” she said. The research is part of a larger survey across the wheat-belt, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

The former Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Farrer, Mr Tim Fischer, AC, will present his views on his ‘three Rs’ – the Riverina, railways and Rome – when he speaks at the annual Nowik Lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury on Tuesday 2 December, one of his last official engagements before taking up his new post as Australian Ambassador to The Vatican in Rome. With over 30 years in politics, he has been many things to many people: army officer, farmer, politician, humanitarian, diplomat, husband, father and a leader. Head of Campus, Albury-Wodonga, Professor Gail Whiteford, said Mr Fischer, an Honorary Doctor of the University, is a son of the Riverina who has served its citizens, CSU and Australia with distinction over many decades. The 2008 Nowik Lecture will commence at 6pm in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Charles Sturt University, off Guinea St, Albury.

About 80 prospective Canadian students attended a recent information session for the 2009 intake of the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario. The session was addressed by the Head of School, Associate Professor Will Letts, course coordinator Ms Mary Marshall, Provost and Special Adviser CSU Ontario, Professor Bob Meyenn, and alumni who shared their experiences. Professor Toni Downes, Dean of the Faculty of Education, said the course is now in its fourth year, and is undoubtedly a cutting-edge, world-class teacher education program. “Staff in the program were hand-picked and are of the highest calibre. We have deliberately maintained a balance between Australian and Canadian staff, as well as academic and professional expertise,” she said. Applications for the Autumn (Fall) 2009 student intake, which starts in August, close on Friday 24 April 2009.

Up to half of rural properties are expected to change hands in the next 10 years, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher studying the increasing levels of rural property turnover. “Over the past 10 years a quarter of rural properties have been sold, and this will increase up to 50 per cent in the next 10 years,” says CSU PhD student Ms Emily Mendham. “This change is being driven by the age of farmers who are approaching retirement and the demand for rural properties.” Ms Mendham’s findings are based on case studies in the traditional farming region of the Wimmera in western Victoria, and closer to Melbourne in the Corangamite region. Both regions have different influences on their changing demographics, and both present different opportunities and challenges. Ms Mendham will speak at ‘The changing nature of our rural neighbourhoods’ forum at the CD Blake Theatre on CSU’s Thurgoona site on Wednesday 26 November, from 9am to 3pm. The free forum will be hosted by the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is taking a closer look at garbage as part of an annual environmental scorecard tracking resource use and greenhouse gas emissions from the institution. The scorecard is produced by CSU Green , and this year’s features more information about waste at the University. The report found almost 16 000 cubic metres of waste was produced in 2010 and more than 75 per cent went into landfill. Acting Manager of CSU Green, Mr Edward Maher, says in the past waste was viewed simply as a cost for the organisation. “A lot of hard work has gone into understanding more about where the waste is coming from and what types of materials it contains,” Mr Maher said. “From here there is real scope to implement avoidance, reuse and recycling initiatives that will ultimately result in less waste to landfill.”   CSU has set a target for 2014 to recover 70 per cent of its solid waste rather than send it to landfill. The environmental scorecard also shows that despite construction of new facilities, CSU’s greenhouse gas emissions are steady and water consumption is nearly half that used in 2006.