Ragwortin’
What a great word – ‘ragwortin’.
This is a description of a farming practice involving getting a team of ‘pullers’ and walking across a field removing Ragwort growth. I was out fishing this morning and came across such a team beside the River Bradford near to Youlgreave in Derbyshire.
I noticed that the team were not wearing gloves and asked the farmer whether he didn’t feel it was a risk given that the Pyrrolizidine alkaloid that the plant contains can cause liver failure?
He expressed surprise that this could be transferred during pulling and pointed out that he had been doing it for years without any side effects….however he looked about 100 years old and I was told later that he is only 55!
We discussed various strategies to remove Ragwort including chemical applications and the various brands that were available. We also discussed the lack of the cinnabar moths this year – which predates on ragwort and keeps the growth to a minimum – he thought it was the dry weather earlier in the year which had killed off the moths.
The farmer had decided a few years ago that the only way to get rid of ragwort was by hand pulling…unfortunately it transpired he had also used the same technique on Japanese Knotweed! ….bad idea!
He had discovered knotweed in a private garden that he was clearing – then pulled the plant out - then tipped the cuttings on the village green…
…guess what – the village green has a huge stand of knotweed!
I’m constantly amazed that people are still unaware of the issues relating to Japanese Knotweed – if our farming and agricultural community can’t deal with these plants properly what chance does the rest of the population have?
Mike C
September 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Bugger the ragwort how was the fishing?
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:17 am
‘Buggering’ the Ragwort just doesn’t work Howard….is this a new TCM technique??
The fishing was excellent - though must say my eyesight is getting worse!…i cant tie the bloody flies on to the line so end up fishing with a blank piece of line..
Congratulations on the new position - im assuming that means more shooting and fishing??