Destruction of noxious weeds

DAERA have reminded farmers of the need to destroy noxious weeds. Ragwort, thistle, dock and wild oat are defined as noxious weeds and under the Noxious Weeds Order landowners have a legal requirement to prevent the spread of them.

Weeds should be destroyed before they have had time to flower, seed and spread. Annual cutting of noxious weeds has no benefit as a long-term control measure and the department recommends the use of herbicides in co-ordination with other good sward management practices.

DAERA has also reminded farmers that all operators who apply pesticide products must be in possession of an accredited certificate of competence and that from 26 November 2016 all sprayer equipment (except handheld and knapsack) must be certified from an independent inspection.

Guidance on the control of weeds and pesticide law changes is available on the DAERA website.

NIIAS event at deer farm

The Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science (NIIAS) will hold an event at Finnebrogue Deer Farm near Downpatrick on Wednesday 15 June at 3pm.

Owner and managing director Denis Lynn will give a presentation on the development of the farm and processing facility before a farm walk and barbeque.

The cost of the event is £10 for NIIAS members, £15 for non-members and £5 for students. Anyone interested should email Robert McKnight at secretary@niias.co.uk or call 07756009770.

Bluetongue vaccine to be made available in Britain

A vaccine for bluetongue (BTV-8) is to be made available to farmers in Britain from mid-July. According to Defra, there is a high risk of an outbreak of the disease in the UK by the end of the summer.

The risk of an outbreak is highest in the south of England due to infected midges being carried in the wind from France where 273 outbreaks of bluetongue have been reported.

Vaccination for bluetongue is currently not permitted in NI by DAERA but has been allowed in Britain since 2012.