Latest news with #Blackgrass
Agriland
8 hours ago
- General
- Agriland
‘Getting to grips with herbicide-resistant grass weeds a priority'
The challenge of herbicide-resistant grass weeds continues to grow on Irish tillage farms at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, the prospect of a significant decline in the availability of herbicide chemistries needed to deal with this problem becomes ever greater, according to Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan. Recent months have seen Blackgrass declared a noxious grass weed by the Irish government. But this is only the tip of a fast-growing iceberg. Glyphosate resistant Italian ryegrass populations have also recently been identified in Ireland for the first time. Phelan said: 'Getting to grips with herbicide resistant grass weeds within crops is a priority now. Growers can't afford to wait until next season and hope to use a chemical at that stage. 'Such an approach just won't work. The only way to tackle the issue is to ensure that mature seeds are not allowed to be produced this year. 'Options here include spraying areas of crops that have heavy weed infestations with glyphosate or hand rogueing, if feasible. But these jobs must be tackled now.' Crucial to all of this is farmers being able to identify the various weeds within crops at their various growth stages. Phelan explained: 'These critical grass weeds can produce large numbers of seeds that will reinfest your land if no action is taken. 'Control measures include marking weed patches, preventing seed return through hand rogueing or spot spraying, and, for severe infestations, whole cropping or spraying off. 'Delaying these measures until after seed set will lead to costly, long-term consequences.' Mature grass weeds are easier to spot when they are flowering or have visible seed heads. Herbicide-resistant grass weeds Teagasc has quantified the scale of the threat now posed to Irish tillage by herbicide-resistant grass weeds. Italian ryegrass represents an increasing threat with 81% of suspected populations confirmed resistant, necessitating zero-tolerance and strict biosecurity. The plant has flattened spike heads with awned spikelets on opposite sides of the stem. According to the Teagasc tillage specialist, Blackgrass is not present on every farm. However, cases are cases are rising. Resistance has been confirmed in 63% of suspected populations, necessitating a zero-tolerance and strict biosecurity on the part of growers. The plant has compact, slender spike heads with brown or purple-tinged awned spikelets. Spring wild oats is a common, competitive grass weed with loose panicle, large spikelets and bent awns. Herbicide resistance has been confirmed in 34% of suspected populations. Growers should hand-rogue herbicide escapees to prevent resistance development.
Agriland
14-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Blackgrass added to list of ‘noxious weeds' that landowners must control
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has today (Wednesday, May 14) confirmed that Blackgrass has been added to the list of noxious weeds that landowners must control. A public consultation had taken place last on proposals to legislation on noxious weeds to include Blackgrass following a recommendation set out in the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Report to 'assist in controlling and preventing the spread of problem grass weeds on Irish farms'. Over a ten year period to 2023, there were 198 complaints relating to noxious weeds made to DAFM and 60% of these related to agricultural land. All complaints over the 10 year period related to ragwort, thistle or dock or a combination of these. Under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936 it is an offence for owners and occupiers of land not to prevent the spread of specified weeds. A new statutory instrument on noxious weeds comes into force today to include Blackgrass. The noxious weeds specified in the legislation are; Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds); Broad-Leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.); Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn.); Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.); Curled Dock (Rumex crispus L.); Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.); Spring Wild Oat (Avena fatua L.); Winter Wild Oat (Avena sterilis L.). DAFM has advised that noxious weeds are best controlled before they seed, spread and threaten agricultural land with infestation and 'enforcement action will be supported by guidance'. The department issues notices to destroy letters in all instances where it becomes aware of the presence of noxious weeds, 'either as a result of inspections or as a result of reports made by the public'. It has warned that the owner of lands on which these weeds are present and not being controlled 'is subject to the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act'. Farmers have also been advised that under conditionality requirements they are obliged to take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of noxious weeds under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) number 8. 'Failure to do so may result in the application of a reduction of their area-based payments,' DAFM has warned. Blackgrass The department also engages with all county councils, Local Authorities and the National Roads Authority to ensure a consistent programme of treatment and disposal of weeds, now including Blackgrass, on an ongoing basis. It has said that enforcement action is 'only taken when there is a risk to agricultural land'. If noxious weeds are reported and found on non-agricultural land, then an assessment will be conducted by a DAFM officer if there is no threat to agricultural land, then no enforcement or further action should be taken.
