The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) reminds farmers and landowners of the need to destroy noxious weeds.
Under the Noxious Weeds (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, ragwort, creeping thistle, spear thistle, broad leafed docks, curled leafed docks and wild oats are defined as noxious weeds. DAERA has powers under the Order to insist that these weeds are destroyed under notice and failure to comply with such a requirement could result in prosecution and/or Basic Payment penalty. Owners and occupiers of land are also reminded that ragwort (also called ragweed or benweed) is poisonous and may cause illness and even death to livestock.
Noxious weeds should be destroyed before they have had time to flower, seed and spread. A factsheet giving information on the control of these weeds in grassland can be obtained from DAERA, Plant Health Inspection Branch, Room 1022, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB (Tel: 028 9052 4691) or from the DAERA website. Search for Noxious Weeds and find ‘Guidance Leaflet NW10 - Herbicides for the Control of Noxious Weeds’.
Care should be taken when filling and applying herbicides to ensure no chemicals enter any drain or waterway as grassland herbicides are the most commonly detected pesticides in local drinking water catchments, MCPA being of particular concern. When spraying, observe buffer zones and where possible use low drift nozzles. After spraying ensure sprayers are cleaned and stored under cover to prevent rain washing any contamination from the sprayer into drains. As the Sustainable Use Directive is now in full effect, everyone applying professional herbicide products requires an approved certificate of competence and all tractor mounted application equipment must have a National Sprayer Testing Scheme test certificate if it is more than five years old.
A Water Catchment Partnership has been formed to highlight the issue of pesticides in local water catchments and is seeking to raise awareness of the issue with local users. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will be supporting this initiative with localised delivery of Rush and Grassland Weed Control Workshops.
For details contact Graeme Campbell by email at: graeme.campbell@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Northern Ireland Water are also launching a pilot free weed wiping programme for farmers in the Seagahan reservoir catchment as part of the Water Catchment Partnership initiative to reduce the use of MCPA. Any farmers within this catchment can contact Dominic McCann, NI Water on 07803 799217 for further details.
Further advice on weed control can be obtained from a BASIS qualified agronomist or your CAFRE Crops Development Adviser. Noxious weeds complaints and complaints involving invasive alien plant species growing on agricultural land may be reported to DAERA on our helpline number 0300 200 7843.
Notes to editors:
- Under the Noxious Weeds (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 the Department is empowered to serve upon the owner of land or the occupier of land a notice requiring, within a specified time, noxious weeds to be cut down or destroyed. Failure to comply with such a notice could lead to the instigation of legal proceedings or a penalty on Basic Payment.
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