Perhaps its because we have horses here on the farm that I'm particularly aware of the problem. But as I have travelled around the country I've noticed it more this year than ever before. Ragwort is everywhere.
Most of all there are "crops" of it on roadside verges. Motorists may even think its yellow flowers are pretty, little realising that it is one of the most lethal plants in the countryside. It is even poisonous to humans but more particularly it kills horses and cattle. Under most circumstances they don't eat it when it is growing because of its bitter taste. But when it dies off because of cutting or spraying it becomes palatable to equines and bovines and causes irreparable damage to their liver. There is no known cure.
All of this has been known by vets for years. Indeed an Act of Parliament in 1959 called The Weeds Act described ragwort as an injurious weed and ruled that it should be controlled. That Act is still in force, although it seems unlikely that the new staff at DEFRA are aware of the fact.
If nothing is done the weed will become even more widespread. Each plant produces about 150,000 seeds and these are distributed by birds and wind. On this farm we keep an eagle eye on any plants that appear in the horse paddocks and remove them immediately. But it is not always possible for tractor drivers cutting hay to see every small plant. If they miss them the potential consequences are horrific and the problem is reaching crisis proportions.
DEFRA should comply with the Weeds Act and institute control of ragwort as a matter of urgency. This is far more important than many of the other regulations on which they spend so much time. Get to it Mr Benn.
Comments (2)
David,
I have noticed an increase in ragwort over the years,there is a perfectly natural and environmentally sound way of getting rid of it- sheep! We curse the wooly blighters at times but to maintain good clean pastures they are the only answer, even if you take some on in the winter months they should nibble the seedlings off.
Posted by Anthony White | July 21, 2007 1:12 PM
Posted on July 21, 2007 13:12
hi i have this problem i have this weed increasingly spreading the field is coverd in it its everywhere you can only see it it is yellow and has little flowers and a long stem in only has about 3 or 4 petals on each flower im really worried can you please tell me what it is asap
Posted by total horse lover | June 10, 2009 10:14 AM
Posted on June 10, 2009 10:14