'Get rid of this killer weed' campaign.A PURGE on the deadly weed ragwort ragwort: see groundsel. began in Huddersfield today. Kirklees Council highways staff are spending today and tomorrow getting rid of the plant from public roads and streets. But they will not be able to take action on private land, despite appeals from animal charity the RSPCA RSPCA (in Britain) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals RSPCA n abbr (Brit) (= Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) → SPA f and the National Farmers'Union, who have voiced concerns over the spread of poisonous weed. Perfect growing weather has caused the 'yellow peril' to flourish on farmland, roadside verges and unused wasteland. This means the weed can easily spread on to land where animals graze - and if eaten, it can be fatal. Horses and livestock are particularly at risk of poisoning from ragwort. It damages the liver, causing a painful death. Symptoms can include weight loss, depression, blindness, paralysis, loss of appetite loss of appetite Medtalk Anorexia, see there , constipation, sunburn sunburn, inflammation of the skin caused by actinic rays from the sun or artificial sources. Moderate exposure to ultraviolet radiation is followed by a red blush, but severe exposure may result in blisters, pain, and constitutional symptoms. and jaundice jaundice (jôn`dĭs, jän`–), abnormal condition in which the body fluids and tissues, particularly the skin and eyes, take on a yellowish color as a result of an excess of bilirubin. . A council spokesman urged people who know where the weed is growing to let them know via the Ross service on 0800 731 8765. David Millard, RSPCA superintendent for the North, said animals were more likely to eat the tall floweringweed when dry conditions resulted in a shortage of grass or when it was mistakenly dried in hay. He added: "Ragwort is a perennial weed and it needs to be dealt with every year. We are urging landowners to rid their fields and verges of this plant. "Each plant can produce thousands of seeds. It is irresponsible of animal owners to allow it to grow in their fields, due to its life-threatening dangers." The weed is registered as 'injurious' under the 1959 Weeds Act, meaning landowners have a responsibility to control it. The NFU NFU National Farmers Union (Denver, CO and Washington, DC) NFU National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales NFU No First Use NFU Norwegian Farmers' Union NFU North Florida University is urging anyone who spots ragwort to pull up the plant. People handling it are advised to wear gloves and wash their hands afterwards, though it is not thought to be dangerous to humans. Tim Coy, NFU group secretary for West Yorkshire West Yorkshire, former metropolitan county, N central England. Created in the 1974 local government reorganization, the county largely embraced the Leeds conurbation and comprised five metropolitan districts: Calderdale, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, and Kirklees. , said: "It is a massive problem this year. We've had a lot of complaints." Ragwort factfile Ragwort is highly toxic highly toxic Occupational medicine adjective Referring to a chemical that 1. Has a median lethal dose–LD50 of ≤ 50 mg/kg when administered orally to 200-300 g albino rats 2. to horses, cattle and sheep. It is the most frequent cause of plant poisoning of livestock in Britain. Younger animals are more susceptible than mature ones. Ragwort flowers in its second year of development and can grow up to 6ft tall. Each plant can make up to 150,000 seeds, 70% of which will germinate. Ragwort seeds can lie dormant in the soil for 20 years. Ragwort is deep-rooted and will regenerate if the root is not completely removed. CAPTION(S): LETHAL: Ragwort |
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