Summary:This paper describes a field experiment conducted in north‐east Victoria investigating the control ofEchium plantagineumL. in a pasture with 2, 4–D and grazing management.Spraying with a small dose of 2, 4‐D (0–14 kg a.i./ha) in late autumn/early winter, followed about 2 weeks later by heavy grazing, removedE. plantagineumfrom the pasture, whilst the associated pasture species,Trifoliutn subierraneumL., was retained. Continuous grazing without spraying also resulted in good control ofE. plantagineum.Herbage production of the pasture in winter was, however, reduced by spraying. The reasons underlying these observations, and farm management programmes for the longterm control ofE. plantagineum, are di