31 July 2007
Ragwort, a poisonous weed of extensively farmed grassland and unmanaged ground, is spreading rapidly due to the recent weather conditions. The Environment Department are urging landowners and occupiers to take action to control the spread.
The control of Ragwort is a legal responsibility of the occupier and if nothing is done to combat it, notices can be served and regulatory action taken.
Minister for Planning and Environment, Senator Freddie Cohen says, “Preventing the spread of this injurious weed is important for the wellbeing of the Island’s grazing animals, and landowners and occupiers should take all measures to assist in its control.”
- ENDS -
For further information and comment please contact:
William Peggie
Assistant Director – Environmental Protection
Tel: 441600.
Notes to Editors.
Dangers of Poisoning
Ragwort is a particular danger to cattle and horses, who are more susceptible to poisoning by eating this particular weed, fresh or after cutting. Sheep and Goats are more resistant but not immune.
Cutting and wilting makes Ragwort more palatable and poisoning mainly arises after eating infested hay, silage or dried grass. Stock does not reject it in this form and the application of herbicides make Ragwort more palatable to them.
The Plant
Ragwort develops into a tall erect plant. In their second or subsequent years the rosettes mature and produce flowering stems from late June onwards. They are between 30-100 cm tall, carrying dense flat topped clusters of bright yellow daisy-like flower heads each 1.5-2.5 cm across.
The leaves on mature plants are strongly divided into narrow lobes with the base clasping the non-woody main stem. The flowering stems die back after producing seeds.
Flowering plants shed large numbers of seeds, which may be carried by wind, especially in dry conditions. They can lie dormant in the soil for 10–16 years if buried below 4 cm. Seeds can germinate at any time of the year, but generally in autumn and spring.
Control Methods
Cutting at the early flowering stage reduces seed production but will encourage more vigorous growth in the following year. Cut plants left lying on the field are a poisoning risk to grazing animals.
Pulling is practical where the weed population is low but small fragments of root remaining in the soil will give rise to new plants. Gloves should be worn if controlling by this method.
Herbicides readily kill seedlings; second-year or older rosette plants are only moderately susceptible. Good control requires close adherence to the recommended treatments. Herbicides temporarily increase the attractiveness of Ragwort to grazing stock. Land occupiers are advised to keep cattle and horses out of sprayed pastures for at least 3-4 weeks. Follow-up treatments will be required to achieve control.
Ragwort will not establish where there is a dense vigorous sward because it is a coloniser of bare or overgrazed land. Therefore, good grassland management will reduce the risk of Ragwort establishment.
Land Occupier Obligation
Ragwort is specified as an Injurious Weed under the Weeds (Jersey) Law 1961, which requires occupiers to prevent it from spreading.
Land Occupier co-operation is required to control this weed and prevent it from maturing, seeding and ultimately spreading throughout the Island. This is a legal requirement if you are the occupier of the land upon which the weed is growing.
If no effective action is taken by the occupier of the land, the Environment Division Inspectorate may, under the law, issue a Statutory Notice to enforce control. If the occupier then fails to take such action as has been specified, the Minister may take action and recover expenses incurred by doing so.
If further advice on weed control is required, please contact Iain Norris or John Jackson at the Advisory Service at the Howard Davis Farm, Tel. 441600.
gov.je