The Ragwort Situation

Arrow in the Knee

I always pull all Ragwort 'root and all' bag it and burn it.

Seems like I have more Ragwort in a small field that usual. Borders neighbours field and there's usually some ragwort in it every year. Probably seeds blew over into our field.

So how's the Ragwort situation with you this summer?

dasheriff

Feckin brutal they are growing all over the place,they are in feilds i have never seen them in before..:(

bbam

Bout the same as ever but it definitely seems to be a summer for the weeds rather than grass

Username John

Arrow in the Knee wrote: »

I always pull all Ragwort 'root and all' bag it and burn it.

Seems like I have more Ragwort in a small field that usual. Borders neighbours field and there's usually some ragwort in it every year. Probably seeds blew over into our field.

So how's the Ragwort situation with you this summer?

Surprising you have ragwort with the sheep Arrow?

Arrow in the Knee

Username John wrote: »

Surprising you have ragwort with the sheep Arrow?

They haven't been in that field since mid April.

Also have heifers so I pull the ragwort in the fields before they go into them.

Usually around the boundaries of the fields.

kevthegaff

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

kevthegaff

kevthegaff wrote: »

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

As far as I know, Ragwort stays poisonous, even after it has been cut and dried up.
edit:

Ragwort is a highly poisonous plant if eaten............. The poisonous material contained in ragwort is not destroyed by drying............Cut plants should be collected and destroyed as an additional precaution against the risk of seed formation and livestock poisoning

from the Teagasc website. http://www.teagasc.ie/horticulture/advisory/vegetable/ragwort.asp

kevthegaff

sh*t better not let anything in for a good while, bloody ragworth:(

whelan1

topping is seen as the easy way out.... i prefer to pull them- make sure roots come up.... ragworth are posionous when dying so stock shouldnt be let in ...

Birdnuts

I've spent the last few weeks pullling and gathering it on my place in the West - its all dried under canvas now, so the next dry day will see a wee bonfire;)

td5man

kevthegaff wrote: »

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

Neighbour had a bad infestation of ragwort now we have it. sprayed a couple of fields with d 50 last year but thought i'd got a poor kill, very little on these fields this year.
I'm mowing and picking up the worst fields and will spray these in november or march depending on the weather.

Arrow in the Knee

kevthegaff wrote: »

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

Don't know how long after topping because when their dead there still posionous.

td5man

Arrow in the Knee wrote: »

kevthegaff wrote: »

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

Don't know how long after topping because when their dead there still posionous.

Probably when all leaf has rotted and the stem has dried out

cj maxx

kevthegaff wrote: »

Their creeping into the farm here:mad:, i topped a particularly bad field yesterday with them, how long before i can graze cows in?

as far as i can make out till they've wilted/rotted and become unpalatable
i read (prob here) that would take about a month or so but make sure there is plenty of grass that they dont resort to eating the ragworth. that is as far as i can make

archtech

What's the best way of getting rid of it, spraying it or physically removing it complete with root. It's popped up everywhere around me and while I don't have any animals at present I still would rather not see it around the place.

I remember been told as kid that it was illegal to let it grow or is this an old wife's tale?

cj maxx

archtech wrote: »

What's the best way of getting rid of it, spraying it or physically removing it complete with root. It's popped up everywhere around me and while I don't have any animals at present I still would rather not see it around the place.

I remember been told as kid that it was illegal to let it grow or is this an old wife's tale?

oh you can be prosecuted it seems . dont know of anyone that has been.
cutting can result in it becoming perennial rather than biennial. another poster sprays in feb/march (not sure with ) but pulling seems to be the preferred solution

sob1467

if you keep sheep in a field they will keep the ragwort away. never knew it was illegal to have them growing in your land. best time to spray them is early spring I think.

You could pick then depending on the quantity of then etc. but better to spray them because its a more long term solution.

johngalway

sob1467 wrote: »

never knew it was illegal to have them growing in your land.

I believe there's a list of noxious weeds in every Garda station.

But, if they start prosecuting it should be the CoCo's up in front of the magistrate first.

Farmer Pudsey

johngalway wrote: »

I believe there's a list of noxious weeds in every Garda station.

But, if they start prosecuting it should be the CoCo's up in front of the magistrate first.

Not quite true I started a post on this a few weeks ago but we are often afraid of complaining about the f##ker next store. I asked a question in my thread nobody was brave enough to answer. It is like in a pub it takes a man to stand up. We all bitch about the CoCo but a lot of the problems are farmers that will not sort the issue out. they did not arrive at the side of the road by accident.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=79912249

whelan1

can we not just have a sort of sticky thread on ragworth? its all very repetitive, same thread last week

kevthegaff

Ragworths bad!

yachtsman

We can't expect the councils to remove ragworth from the sides of our country roads. they just hav'nt the money. I see they have let about 9000 people go in the last few years and the gov are slashing their support. I removed all ragworth from both inside my fields (cut) and outside my boundery fences and if everyone did outside their bounderys it would be a great help. I reckon the councils can't ask us to do that or some will see it as an invitation to sue the council if they get hit by a car while doing so. More of the nanny state.

whelan1

1. The noxious weed act 1936, covers ragworth
2. ragworth are palatable when dying
3. ragworth become palatable when ensiled in silage pales or silage pits
4. best time to spray is feb/march when at the rosette stage or in november
5. if spraying in spring frost can affect the kill and cattle should not be aloud graze until all plants are dead,this may require resparaying
6. pulling the plant is the best way to eradiacate it- make sure roots come up too, make sure to dispose of any pulled plants away from stock so they wont eat it
7. cattle will only eat ragworth as it is in the field if theres nothing else to eat
8. ragworth are a pain in the butt:D

Atilathehun

yachtsman wrote: »

We can't expect the councils to remove ragworth from the sides of our country roads. they just hav'nt the money. I see they have let about 9000 people go in the last few years and the gov are slashing their support. I removed all ragworth from both inside my fields (cut) and outside my boundery fences and if everyone did outside their bounderys it would be a great help. I reckon the councils can't ask us to do that or some will see it as an invitation to sue the council if they get hit by a car while doing so. More of the nanny state.

So councils not having the money to obey the law and remove the ragwort is ok, but if joe soap is out of work and stuck for money to the point where he skips paying a few bills, that's not ok. Car tax or TV licence for example! Double standards.

kevthegaff

This sort of work is perfect for prisoners, people on long term unemployment a day a week! picking litter, weeds, stones. the country would be pristine after a year:)

whelan1

kevthegaff wrote: »

This sort of work is perfect for prisoners, people on long term unemployment a day a week! picking litter, weeds, stones. the country would be pristine after a year:)

ragworth picking would be below alot of these people.... not a chance in hell of them doing it

Atilathehun

whelan1 wrote: »

kevthegaff wrote: »

This sort of work is perfect for prisoners, people on long term unemployment a day a week! picking litter, weeds, stones. the country would be pristine after a year:)

ragworth picking would be below alot of these people.... not a chance in hell of them doing it

The Quinn family should be put at it, seven days a week given the courts have sanctioned €30k a month living expenses for them. They could be given gloves. Seanie Fitz, on the other hand should be put picking thistles, with no gloves.

whelan1

Atilathehun wrote: »

The Quinn family should be put at it, seven days a week given the courts have sanctioned €30k a month living expenses for them. They could be given gloves. Seanie Fitz, on the other hand should be put picking thistles, with no gloves.

bertie should be with them too:D

johngalway

whelan1 wrote: »

bertie should be with them too:D

While people throw rocks at him as well.

kevthegaff

Atilathehun wrote: »

The Quinn family should be put at it, seven days a week given the courts have sanctioned €30k a month living expenses for them. They could be given gloves. Seanie Fitz, on the other hand should be put picking thistles, with no gloves.

It could be hard to differentiate between some of these obnoxious weeds!:D

whelan1

was at an ms fundraider in ardee this afternoon-my sister has ms- part of this was pony rides for kids in a field, was loads of ragworth in the field and it nearly killed me to keep my hands in my pockets and not pull any:o

Arrow in the Knee

whelan1 wrote: »

was at an ms fundraider in ardee this afternoon-my sister has ms- part of this was pony rides for kids in a field, was loads of ragworth in the field and it nearly killed me to keep my hands in my pockets and not pull any:o

Horse owners are just 'too posh to pull'!!!

Dont be daft

whelan1 wrote: »

was at an ms fundraider in ardee this afternoon-my sister has ms- part of this was pony rides for kids in a field, was loads of ragworth in the field and it nearly killed me to keep my hands in my pockets and not pull any:o

Know exactly what you mean. It becomes a habit.

I was helpin' out a neighbour once and I pulled one up as I was walking across his field out of pure habit.
Had to walk around with it in me hand for ages. Felt like a right pleb:o

Tora Bora

Dont be daft wrote: »

whelan1 wrote: »

was at an ms fundraider in ardee this afternoon-my sister has ms- part of this was pony rides for kids in a field, was loads of ragworth in the field and it nearly killed me to keep my hands in my pockets and not pull any:o

Know exactly what you mean. It becomes a habit.

I was helpin' out a neighbour once and I pulled one up as I was walking across his field out of pure habit.
Had to walk around with it in me hand for ages. Felt like a right pleb:o

Just spent three whole days pulling the stuff on my place. Massive heap of under polythene in the yard at the moment.
I still have a small area of about quarter acre, which is heavily covered in very light individual plants, not much stronger than buttercups. Can't pull them as they all break, leaving the root behind.

What's the best approach? Leave to get stronger, bigger or spray? I think it's late for spraying??
Would cutting and gathering be any good!

whelan1

Tora Bora wrote: »

Just spent three whole days pulling the stuff on my place. Massive heap of under polythene in the yard at the moment.
I still have a small area of about quarter acre, which is heavily covered in very light individual plants, not much stronger than buttercups. Can't pull them as they all break, leaving the root behind.

What's the best approach? Leave to get stronger, bigger or spray? I think it's late for spraying??
Would cutting and gathering be any good!

pull them near the butt, or use a shovel

valtraman

If we cant pull something together and get this weed under control it will be nearly impossible to make safe silage inanother few years what about early may/june silage when the weeds are small or the young non flowering plants that we cant see when pulling in later silage .I have been out pulling them and on all roadsides joining me but it feels hopeless when i see the local council sand store site like a field of oilseed rape

Tora Bora

whelan1 wrote: »

Tora Bora wrote: »

Just spent three whole days pulling the stuff on my place. Massive heap of under polythene in the yard at the moment.
I still have a small area of about quarter acre, which is heavily covered in very light individual plants, not much stronger than buttercups. Can't pull them as they all break, leaving the root behind.

What's the best approach? Leave to get stronger, bigger or spray? I think it's late for spraying??
Would cutting and gathering be any good!

pull them near the butt, or use a shovel

Pulling near the ground isn't working. Stem too weak and breaking. Just far too many to get with a shovel. I'm just going to leave them another three or four weeks. Hopefully they will pull then without breaking.

Dont be daft

Tora Bora wrote: »

Pulling near the ground isn't working. Stem too weak and breaking. Just far too many to get with a shovel. I'm just going to leave them another three or four weeks. Hopefully they will pull then without breaking.

Yeah, its what I'd do. I know the feeling of just wanting to get the job done but if its gonna be snappin at the butt you'll be seeing it again soon.
Cleaning a farm of ragwort isnt a one day job. You get most of them the 1st time round then its a matter of maintenance after that.

Havent been travelling much these past few months so only realising now how bad the country is with the stuff. Dunno how lads could stay looking at it in a field. I'd be mortified having the stuff around the place.

Arrow in the Knee

We can send men to the Moon and a 1 tonne vehicle to Mars yet we can't eradicate Ragwort!

It's risky buying bales of anybody if you don't know if they pulled Ragwort out of the meadow before baling.

Jeju

I have the stuff in my garden at home, and usually use Weedol Rootkill spray to get the small new plants. Does the trick.

PureBred

County Council out here in Mayo pulling them the last few days. Lorry they had out was full of them.

Qualitymark

whelan1 wrote: »

was at an ms fundraider in ardee this afternoon-my sister has ms- part of this was pony rides for kids in a field, was loads of ragworth in the field and it nearly killed me to keep my hands in my pockets and not pull any:o

Not good for you to pull ragwort with bare hands anyway. But if you had thick gloves, maybe everyone would have joined in and cleared the field...

pakalasa

Obvious but pull them when the ground is very wet.

whelan1

pakalasa wrote: »

Obvious but pull them when the ground is very wet.

yup, notice them harder to pull in the last few days

Arrow in the Knee

Qualitymark wrote: »

Not good for you to pull ragwort with bare hands anyway. But if you had thick gloves, maybe everyone would have joined in and cleared the field...

Ehh,
I always pull them with bare hands!!!

Why is it not good for you to pull Ragwort with bare hands?

Qualitymark

Arrow in the Knee wrote: »

Ehh,
I always pull them with bare hands!!!

Why is it not good for you to pull Ragwort with bare hands?

Maybe it's an urban (or rural) legend, but the juice is supposed to be very bad for your kidneys, cause kidney damage. I don't know if it's true, but I'd be inclined to wear gloves pulling them myself.

whelan1

i dont wear gloves if i am only pulling one or 2 but if i am on a mission i will wear gloves, amazing to see the amount of stuff that gets on the gloves

marknjb

Tora Bora wrote: »

Pulling near the ground isn't working. Stem too weak and breaking. Just far too many to get with a shovel. I'm just going to leave them another three or four weeks. Hopefully they will pull then without breaking.

i bought a ragworth fork on the net last year for about 50 euro i find it very good to get up the roots
we did a lot of pulling this year because it was so wet u could pull them easy

KatyMac

I'm sooooo glad to see this thread! I was beginning to feel I'd done something wrong as fields that never had ragwort were yellow this year. Husband's back is done for as he's spending such an amount of time bent double. I've almost given up the battle and am planning to opt for spraying. Doesn't stop me from still coming in from fields with my arms full.

Farmer Pudsey

Long term if you have a lot of ragworth the only answer is to spray it. However it is a bieniel that means that the seeds from plants this year will not germinate until september 12 months. This means that you will have to spray two years running idealy. A lot of farmers try to spray in november or february if it is mild as they will find it easie to keep cattle out of paddocks.

However a farmer near me reccomends spraying in May leave cattle out of it 3 weeks on grazing groung do not graze ground tight and top after. With hay/silage ground do the same however you should be able to keep in control on this type of land by pulling spot spraying. He also says that if you keep it topped for a year and not let them seed out that by spraying once the next year you will really hit them.

Qualitymark

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

if you keep it topped for a year and not let them seed out that by spraying once the next year you will really hit them.

Except for the seeds blowing in from council land including roadsides, of course...