10 July 2000

Poisonous Ragwort Advice from MAFF

Of the five species of injurious weed, common ragwort probably causes most concern as it is fatally poisonous to animals. The Country Landowners Association and a number of special horse-owners' associations have done a great deal in recent years to raise public awareness of the dangers ragwort can pose to pet horses, ponies and donkeys. Last week Countryside Minister Elliot Morley announced that updated MAFF advisory leaflets about injurious weeds have been made available on-line from the MAFF Website. The advisory leaflets deal with the five species of injurious weed that are subject to the provisions of the Weeds Act 1959. These are two species of dock, two species of thistle, and common ragwort. All land occupiers have a responsibility to ensure that any injurious weeds on their land do not pose a serious threat to farmland or farm animals. One leaflet is a full-colour guide to the identification of these weeds. Another explains MAFF policy under the provisions of the Weeds Act itself, gives some useful addresses as sources of further advice and gives current MAFF recommendations for control measures. Mr Morley said: "Injurious weeds need to be controlled, and I encourage all rural land users to play their part in this. Ragwort is a particular problem for those who have horses, ponies and donkeys because it is highly toxic. "For its part, MAFF will follow up complaints about ragwort where farm animals are at risk. But we cannot normally deal with cases where horses, ponies and donkeys kept for personal recreation or as pets are at risk. For that reason, I entirely support the campaigns which the Country Landowners Association and a number of specialist equine organisations regularly launch to raise awareness of the dangers posed by ragwort." A copy of the Weeds Act literature can be obtained on the MAFF website at: http://www.maff.gov.uk/environ/weedsact/default.htm. There are many species of ragwort, a weed that is poisonous to cattle. Farmers try to eradicate this plant by pulling up the young flowers before they can seed, but the seeds can remain dormant in the soil for many years, so it is a continuous job. The first flowers appear in June, and ragwort is at its finest in July and August; you may see a few stragglers in bloom as late as November. Common Ragwort