It is advantageous to remove ragwort when an infestation is only a minor one, the Environment Minister has reiterated.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot was asked to confirm his department’s policy on the removal of ragwort (better known as Cushag).

The department, along with the Department of Infrastructure, Highways, Manx Horse Council, MNFU and the Wildflowers of Mann, published a code of best practice for its removal in 2013.

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The weed occurs in neglected grass fields, on uncropped ground and sand dunes. It prefers light soils of low fertility, particularly in over or under-grazed pasture. Common ragwort is biennial when undisturbed but can develop perennial characteristics following cutting or treading.

Cattle and horses are particularly susceptible to poisoning by common ragwort but sheep are also susceptible. Palatability of the weed increases when plants are conserved in hay or silage or treated with herbicide.

Mr Boot quoted from pages 10 and 11 in the ’Cushag Code’ in his response in August’s Tynwald written answers.

He said: ’Where a medium or high risk has been identified, owners/occupiers and managers of land, including private and public land, highways, waterways, railways, conservation and amenity areas and land awaiting development, should develop a ragwort control policy.

’Such policies should take account of the need for vegetation management, including weed control and identify ragwort as a specific weed that should be controlled.

’The nature conservation status and biodiversity attributes of the land, and the contribution to them made by the ragwort, must also be considered when determining the type and level of control instigated.’

Mr Boot added that when considering what is practical, owners/occupiers/managers should balance the risk of ragwort against the time and cost of taking action while considering whether the cost of control is proportionate to the risk.

However, he said that in some types of land such as railway land and trunk roads, this might make regular inspections of all land holdings impractical.

’In such situations complaints and reports should be used to accumulate information on ragwort hotspots’, Mr Boot said.

’However, it should be noted that densities can increase where conditions are suitable and it is advantageous to deal with minor infestations where possible.

’Any control efforts should consider collaboration and cooperation with neighbours to achieve effective control of the spread of ragwort.’