Management practices for control of ragwort species pdf. Spear thistle cirsium vulgare, creeping or field thistle cirsium arvense, curled dock rumex crispus and broadleaved dock rumex obtusifolius. Both the weeds act 1959 and the ragwort control act 2003. The abundance of ragwort species is increasing in westand central europe. According to bcs weed control act, tansy ragwort is considered a noxious weed within all regions of the province websites listed in pdf file below. The act gives the secretary of state the power to serve a written notice on the occupier of land requiring them to take action to prevent ragwort from spreading, within the time specified in the. Management practices for control of ragwort species. It provides for the publication of a code of practice on ragwort control, as common ragwort is considered a harmful weed that can endanger animals which browse it. Ragwort control and removal advice the donkey sanctuary. Report ragwort and japanese knotweed warwickshire county. The ragwort control act 2003 allowed for the production of the code of practice. In february 2004, the ragwort control act 2003 came into force in england and wales, as a result of a private members bill sponsored by john greenway mp and.
Hands must be protected by wearing sturdy waterproof gardening type gloves. The other bit of legislation that relates to ragwort is the control of ragwort act 2003 and it is also worth a read. This article is within the scope of wikiproject united kingdom, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the united kingdom on wikipedia. The weeds act of 1959 provides for orders for the control of common ragwort, this was updated by the ragwort control act of 2003. How landowners and occupiers can assess the threat of ragwort on their land and control it. It contains toxins, which can have debilitating or fatal consequences if eaten by. Ragwort is covered by the weeds act 1959 which specifies five injurious weeds including common ragwort and the ragwort control act 2003.
Weed management act 1999, and friesland, province of the netherlands verordening. It is also covered by the ragwort control act 2003 which provides a code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. Please enter your membership number or the email address associated with your nfu membership account. The weeds act 1959 covers 5 specific weeds including ragwort, however they are not notifiable as such and there is. Tansy ragwort was first recorded in bc at nanaimo in 1950, and since then has greatly expanded its range. Defra, however, is quick to point out that the aim is not to eradicate ragwort, but to control it where it threatens the health and welfare of animals and. Many landowners and occupiers used this as a guide for their ragwort control activity last summer. Ragwort is a toxic plant and suitable precautions must be taken when handling live and dead plants. A facemask should be used to avoid the inhalation of ragwort pollen.
Scottish government guidance on how to prevent the spread of. Ragwort the problem, the law and control techniques. However, in the right environment, and where there is no risk to animal welfare, ragwort contributes to the biodiversity of the. It is most emphatically definitely and certainly not the case that the law obliges people to control ragwort on their land. Ragwort contains a poisonous alkaloid, which attacks the liver eventually causing death to the animal by cumulative build up over. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Both the weeds act 1959 and the ragwort control act 2003, supported by defras code of practice 2004, seek to control the spread of ragwort and prevent its spread to neighbouring land. For guidance, on good practice and the legal framework for land managers, consult the code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. Ragwort control what is ragwort and why is it a problem. Ragwort is present and floweringseeding within 50m of land used for grazing by horses and other farm animals or land used for feedforage.
Last july, i launched a draft code of practice at the royal international horse show at hickstead. Ragwort az of weeds weeds pests, diseases and weeds. An act to amend the weeds act 1959 in relation to ragwort. The ragwort control act 2003 which amends the weeds act 1959, imposes a duty of responsibility on landowners to effectively control senecio jacobaea, preventing it from spreading to land where animals are grazing. Also, if you dont get the management of the land right usually introducing less intensive grazing and reducing supplementary feeding you will never control it either. The ragwort control act 2003 gives this code evidential status in any. Good pasture management which keeps the grass sward tight will minimise the chance of ragwort establishing. The ragwort control act amends the weeds act 1959 and provides specifically for more effective management of ragwort, a poisonous weed which is responsible every year for the deaths and illness of many horses and other livestock. The ragwort control act 2003 c 40 is an act of the parliament of the united kingdom.
The ragwort control act 2003 is an extension of the weeds act 1959. Both the weeds act 1959 and the ragwort control act 2003, supported by defras code of practice 2004, seek to control the spread of. The ragwort control act 2003 allows for the creation of a code of practice. Neither of these acts makes ragwort control compulsory in the absence of an order. This code of practice does not seek to eradicate ragwort but helps to prevent the spread of the plant onto land used for horses, livestock and forage production. Biological control of ragwort in australia began when the council for scientific and industrial research csir introduced the foliage feeding cinnabar moth, t. We are committed to take a proactive approach to controlling injurious weeds, such as ragwort and japanese knotweed. See end of document for details 2 subsection 1 does not affect the power to make further orders varying or omitting that reference. Usda nrcs does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective. Ragwort removal how to get rid of ragwort common ragwort. Where the minister of agriculture fish and food in this act referred to as the minister is satisfied that there are injurious weeds to which this act applies growing upon any land he may serve. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the ragwort control act 2003.
The scientific latin genus name, senecio, means old man. It is brief and to the point and enables a code of practice to be laid down. The ragwort control act 2003 covers england and wales. Ragwort ragwort senecio jacobea is also known as ragweed, buachalan and buachalan buidhe. Code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. Ragwort jacobaea vulgaris spread to reach its full potential range in new zealand back in the 1920s, infesting vast areas of pastoral land. Available from gap office, the kiln, mather road, newark, nottinghamshire ng24 1wt.
Effective manual control requires removal of the crown and all larger roots. The weeds act 1959 covers 5 specific weeds including ragwort, however they are not notifiable as such and there is no obligation to report their presence to anyone. Leaves of ragwort are dark to midgreen on upper surface, paler and sometimes downy underneath and up to 35 cm long. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Consequently, control of common ragwort is obligatory in some countries and is as such included in the legislation of the uk. The associated code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort recommends it should be controlled, if practical, wherever it. The 1959 act has been amended by the ragwort control act 2003. Especially toxic to horses and cattle, this poisonous weed was a. Common ragwort senecio jacobaea is a specified weed under the weeds act 1959. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. It was first released in 1930 currie and fyfe 1938.
Classed an injurious weed on the 1959 weeds act and the 2003 ragwort control act, it is essential to stop ragwort from spreading into pasture areas. Ragwort the biological control of weeds book february 2016 te whakapau taru isbn 0 478 09306 3 ragwort flea beetle longitarsus jacobaeae the history of ragwort flea beetle in new zealand ragwort flea beetle was imported from the usa by the dsir in 1981. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. Ragwort is present and floweringseeding within 50m of land used for grazing by horses and other farm animals or land used for feedforage production. Code of practice to prevent and control the spread of ragwort. Nineteen species of the ragwort genus, senecio, occur in the wild in britain, but most of.
Jun, 2016 in 2003 the ragwort control act was passed. Pdf management practices for control of ragwort species. In ancient greece and rome a supposed aphrodisiac was made from the plant. Draft bc press release on new ragwort code butterfly conservation. Ragwort the law all landowners have a responsibility to control the spread of ragwort 2005 saw the most noticeable infestations of ragwort for many years. Pdf, 612kb, 55 pages details use this code to prevent ragwort spreading where it presents a high risk of poisoning horses and livestock or spreading to.
The beetle is native to europe, and the american population originated from. The act provides for a code of practice to be prepared to give guidance on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. Uk provides detailed information about preventing harmful weeds and invasive nonnative plants. At the end of 2002, the british horse society supported john greenway mp in initiating a private members bill, with my full support and that of the government, to amend the weeds act 1959. Ragwort code of practice on how to prevent the spread of. This act of parliament exists to create a code for managing ragwort. Ragwort is an invasive weed toxic to horses and livestock. Weed management act 1999, and friesland, province of the. Ragwort control act 2003 2003 chapter 40 an act to amend the weeds act 1959 in relation to ragwort. Any codes of practice made are admissible as evidence in court proceedings. Ragwort and the law under the weeds act 1959 a landowner or occupier may be ordered to control the spread of ragwort.
Weeds act 1959 and ragwort control act 2003, ireland. It is however a plant that is not welcome anywhere on vancouver island. It is also covered by the ragwort control act 2003 which. English nature information note towards a ragwort management strategy 2003. Towards a ragwort management strategy 2003 information note on the control of common ragwort a guide to animal welfare in nature conservation grazing grazing animal project 2001. The ragwort control act 2003 provides for the government to produce a guide to ragwort control. The ragwort control act 2003 provides for a code of practice on ragwort but does not place any further legal responsibilities on landowners to control the plant. Apr 18, 2011 how landowners and occupiers can assess the threat of ragwort on their land and control it. Management practices for control of ragwort species ncbi. Under the weeds act 1959 and the ragwort control act 2003 england and wales only, the occupier of the land is responsible for controlling and removing ragwort.
Ragwort seeds are spread by wind, water, animals, farm implements, agricultural produce including hay, on clothing and other equipment. See end of document for details ragwort control act 2003 2003 chapter 40 an act to amend the weeds act 1959 in relation to ragwort. Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus senecio is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Guide to rules on ragwort control for livestock farmers. Ragwort is also an important nectar resource for many insect species with some reliant on the plant for their survival. If you are concerned about the risk of ragwort spreading onto your land, defra advises that you first try to seek a solution with the occupier of the infested area.
Position statement on ragwort control in the uk introduction. It is a common weed of irish pastures and thrives on a wide range of soils, but competes best on lighter free draining soils where fertility is reasonably high and grazing not intensive. Common ragwort is a specified weed under the ragwort control act 2003. The weeds act 1959 preventing the spread of harmful weeds 2002. The ragwort control act 2003 and the code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort defra, 2004 provide guidelines for assessing risk.
Knotweed is an invasive introduced plant that colonises waterways and woodlands, and pushes out native wildlife. Please follow the links and read the material i provided ragwort is it as bad as you think. We work hard to raise awareness on the issue of ragwort and we strive to educate horse and landowners of the dangers ragwort poses to grazing animals. However, there has been a tendency to misquote the. Ragwort is poisonous to people as well as livestock and is classified as an injurious weed by defra under the ragwort control act 2003, meaning that failure to control ragwort on your land may lead to prosecution. How to kill ragwort weeds control ragwort progreen. It gets to be very tall, forms dense stands, and is an impressive sight. This responsibility applies to ragwort and the other weeds speci.
It enables the secretary of state, or national assembly for wales, as appropriate, to make a code of practice for landowners and occupiers to. In response to a claimed dramatic spread in ragwort, there have been calls for the development of a common ragwort senecio jacobaea management strategy. The associated code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort recommends it should be controlled, if practical, wherever it presents a medium to high risk to animal welfare. This means that it germinates in the autumn, puts on leaf growth through the winter then flowers and set. Common ragwort is a specified weed mentioned in the weeds act 1959. Among our notable successes was the instrumental and essential role that the bhs played in the instigation of the control of ragwort act 2003.
It provides for the publication of a code of practice on ragwort control. The ragwort control act 2003 gives the secretary of state the power to make a code of practice for the purpose of providing guidance on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. A combination of manualmechanical pulling or levering and reducing disturbance. Ragwort is classed as an injurious weed under the weeds act 1959. Consequently, control of ragwort is obligatory by law in the uk, ireland and australia. It contains toxins, which can have debilitating or fatal consequences if. Ragwort biocontrol pays off issue 74 manaaki whenua. An increasingly unfamiliar sight in new zealand, ragwort in 1981 before the release of the flea beetle. Ragwort is a perennial problem for managers of paddocks and fields. The ragwort species common or tansy ragwort jacobaea vulgaris, formerly senecio jacobaea, marsh ragwort s. Common ragwort is a specified weed mentioned in the weeds act 1959, said mr isaac. The traditional circumscription of senecio is artificial, being polyphyletic, even in its new circumscription which is based. Offering a word of warning to all land occupiers, miss tavernor points out.
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