Ragwort, would you graze your horse in this field, someone does with theirs

My big fear is HAY!

On my walks with the dog, I've seen a lot of hay fields with a reasonable amount of ragwort in. I don't know who owns the fields, and I've been talking about it at the yard. It's all been cut and baled now.

Whenever we buy hay, I always ask the supplier to confirm its been cut from a ragwort free field, but our hay suppliers have been sourcing their hay from all over the place recently, and in view of the hay shortage this year, I think it's something that could be a real problem, as the horse will eat it in hay :(

How easy is it to spot in hay?
 
I thought the local authority had a duty to enforce people to remove ragwort from their land?

Anyhow I think reporting to the RSPCA or WHW, they may (should) act on it. It is a welfare issue.
 
deicinmerlyn said:
I thought the local authority had a duty to enforce people to remove ragwort from their land?

Anyhow I think reporting to the RSPCA or WHW, they may (should) act on it. It is a welfare issue.
Click to expand...

Nothing to do with local authority
DEFRA
SGRPID
Welsh Gov

If hay is sold with ragwort in it--that could easily be a Trading Standards matter
 
deicinmerlyn said:
I thought the local authority had a duty to enforce people to remove ragwort from their land?

Anyhow I think reporting to the RSPCA or WHW, they may (should) act on it. It is a welfare issue.
Click to expand...

Bedfordshire council has no problem with ragwort that is growing out of control in non-grazing land and along verges, because it provides 'essential habitat for butterflies, etc, etc' ..... :( (My friend was told this, when she complained)

The problem for us horse owners, is if you are unfortunate enough to have your horses in a field next to a council owned field or verge, the seeds blowing across mean that the task of removing it is never ending.
 
Misinterpreted said:
Bedfordshire council has no problem with ragwort that is growing out of control in non-grazing land and along verges, because it provides 'essential habitat for butterflies, etc, etc' ..... :( (My friend was told this, when she complained)

The problem for us horse owners, is if you are unfortunate enough to have your horses in a field next to a council owned field or verge, the seeds blowing across mean that the task of removing it is never ending.
Click to expand...

Ha! probably just and excuse not to do it. Did she tell them about how it can kill? its poisonous to people too, what happens if a child goes and picks it?? or whatever?
 
Didn't think ragwort at early flowering stage would cause too much trouble with seeds and the amount of accelarent used to get it started probably got rid of most of them.
Does anyone know which butterflies live on ragwort?
How do you get rid of it if you don't burn it?
 
Ive a feeling its the Cinnabar moth that feeds on ragwort. Its a poor excuse for leaving it to grow as the ragwort isnt, to my knowledge, its exclusive food.
 
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