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Wart affects everybody

WHETHER you’re new to land management, a long time farmer or a public land manager, no one is immune to the threat of ragwort.

Having persisted in high rainfall areas of Victoria since the late 1800s, ragwort is unequivocally a tough plant to beat.

One plant may produce up to 250,000 seeds each year which can then last in the soil for over 10 years.

With this in mind, is it worth the fight to control ragwort? The answer is absolutely.

Aside from the productivity impacts of ragwort, the social impacts born from a lack of control are equally as significant.

Good neighbours do not share ragwort seeds with other landholders. When they do, the social impact is significant.

The social impacts of invasive species like ragwort are difficult to quantify yet it is clear they are considerable.

The financial consequences of managing weeds causes stress for farm businesses. Conflict between neighbours and between sections of the community with differing attitudes to weed control can also be emotionally taxing.

Therefore by controlling ragwort you, as a landholder, are not only meeting your legal requirements but you will be keeping your neighbours and the local farming community happy.

Act now: Sharyn Allott of Welshpool points out some ragwort growing in South Gippsland. To learn more about ragwort, contact Landcare.

Act now: Sharyn Allott of Welshpool points out some ragwort growing in South Gippsland. To learn more about ragwort, contact Landcare.

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Posted by on Apr 8 2014. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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