The arrival of cropping season means Bay of Plenty farmers need to be extra-vigilant to avoid weeds accidentally being carried on to their properties by contractors'machinery.

Farmers need to be sure machinery coming on to their farms is clean.

Pest plant contractor Chris Hale says only farmer vigilance can help stop the spread of highly invasive weeds that have been found in the Bay of Plenty.

'These things don't just happen by bad luck.

'In most cases machinery is responsible for the spread of these pest plants. We are trying to get the message out there about hygiene.

'Farmers need to be very aware of the importance of machinery being clean when it arrives on their properties. While this may seem an onerous task at times, it is nothing compared to the time and cost involved in trying to eradicate these pest plants if they get established on a farm.”

Drought in summer followed by a wet winter means weeds will be back with vengeance this summer, says Chris.

Ones to watch out for include horsenettle or ‘devil's tomato' – a poisonous plant found in maize paddocks across the Bay of Plenty

Bill Kent from Environment Bay of Plenty says horsenettle was found in the region 25 years ago and was thought to have been eradicated
'Once weeds become widespread it's hard to hold them back. But if we get onto it in the earlier stages, it's easier to wipe them out.”