Has the presence of notifiable weeds across the Yass Valley increased, or has there been a marked decrease in their prolificacy?
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That was the issue which has raised the ire of landholders, leading to the Weeds Forum held at Yass.
Not least of their concerns is the question of bio-security where attention is paid to the movement of livestock and vehicles, but it appears to many little attention is paid to notifiable weeds.
Instigated by Yass branch NSW Farmers and led by Carolina Merriman, a select panel including representatives from Yass Valley Council, South East Local Land Services (LLS), NSW Department of Primary Industry and NSW Farmers addressed the concerns of landholders who attended the meeting.
Serrated tussock is the number one notifiable weed causing most concern, not least for its close resemblance to the native poa tussock grass.
Ms Merriman said it was important for landholders to be vigilant about the control of notifiable weeds and ensure their spread is kept to a minimum.
"Nothing gets done if we don't work together," she said.
"We had the forum this morning to let people raise their concerns and hopefully we will get some action form council and LLS."
One of the problems highlighted was the lack of knowledge from some landholders in being able to recognise the notifiable weeds.
All too often, with people purchasing a life-style block and having little farming experience they don't know what plants are weeds.
As one person said ... "they all look like green stuff that grows in the paddocks".
In response, Yass Valley Council Environmental Services Coordinator, Mark Livermore said it was an issue with which the council is fully aware.
"As well as doing inspections on big properties, we are looking at small holdings," he said.
"We are also attending some of the landcare meetings and following the feedback from this meeting we will be looking at going to the next level."
Mr Livermore pointed out landholders need to take some responsibility and admit they need help in identifying notifiable weeds on their property.
It was further suggested, concerned landholders get together in an area and have an on-property walked guided by someone with experience in identifying notifiable weeds and able to provide advice on its control and eradication.
NSW Farmers Regional Service and Sales Manager Jonathan Tuckfield said landholders do have to take some ownership when it comes to notifiable weed control.
He said the issue of control of weeds and pest animals is something he sees across the state with NSW Farmers branches seeking a solution, yet there are some public and private land managers who do not consider eradication a priority..
"There are lots of people out there who do not know their obligations, what the requirements are, do not know what the weeds are," he said.
Mr Tuckfield told his audience one process other NSW Farmer branches are considering at a state level without success are compulsory weed inspection be part of local government sign-off on transfer of rural property.
"One other thing which has come up recently is improved/unimproved land valuations where the farmer or landholder who has done a really good job in controlling notifiable weeds is actually paying higher rates because their land is given a higher valuation than a farmer who has done nothing." he said.
