Ragwort

M

misterjinglejay

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 January 2008
Messages
3,456
Location
Where the Wild Things Are....
Visit site
I freely admit to being completely anal about the horrible stuff, and, after moving to a new DIY yard and discovering it growing everywhere, am a tad miffed with the existing liveries for allowing it to get so bad!

Over a two acre field, myself and my OH dug up 6-7 wheelbarrows; most of the plants were tiny - just a pair of leaves, but some were much bigger. Aaaarrrggg!

The other livery, and her horsey friends thought we were very weird doing all that work, and loftily declared that they wait til its flowering cos its easier to spot ....um.... am I being thick or does that mean that their horses have two summers with a ragworty field because they are lazy or blind??

I know horses don't generally eat it when its young, but ponies being ponies....

What do other people do? Am I mad for weeding so insanely?
 
Why are you miffed with the other liveries it's there animals they are risking for grazing on this land.

Just as a little tip though, if this is a livery yard covered in ragwort then the owner is breaking the law so your first stop would be to remove your animals and contact DEFRA who can inforce certain standards.

The other liveries do have a point in some respect, ragwort is at is most potent when flowered and the flowers have died, so you are doing the right kind of thing. Me I wouldn't risk grazing on this land at all, who's to say when it's too late when your animals have incurable liver disease?
 
i wouldnt turn mine out on riddled fields! you are absolutely right to dig it up! a tip once you have dug up then spray in the hole a good dose of round up or stoccoto to kill any remaining roots! but it sounds like you are on a hiding to nothing and personnaly would look for better turnout! ragwort is a slow killer gradually toxicating the liver over a period of time! would also be very careful as to the hay available in the winter!
 
I'm miffed at my YO as i have a field with 2 other liveries on a 80 horse yard. Between us this year we have already removed 4 barrow fulls of small plants before they have even got to the flowering stage.
We then do one every month just to keep on top of it and pull any we missed.
Your never going to get it all up but i hope our efforts are helping to keep it at bay and our field is one of the best kept on the yard...not trying to blow own trumpet!!!

However some of the other fields are unkempt and as a result rag in their fields are rife. The YO has sprayed their fields for rag and docks and not done ours as we pulled it up earlier in the year.

Basically the way i see it is the YO is just encouraging people not to bother as he'll spray it.

I know they run the risk of their horses eating it before he sprays and their horses have to stay in for a couple of weeks due to the chemicals. But it peeves me off that we seem to end up doing the hard work and the others get it done for them.
The other liveries then moan because they have to stay in for a couple of weeks saying its just a way for the YO to make money out of selling hay and straw!!!

If they looked after it then they wouldn't have to stay in and spend money on feed and bedding!!!

I know its the YO responsibility to deal with the rag but surely the liveries should take responsibility to get rid of this horrible weed as well?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top