The Department of Agriculture launched its plant health and biosecurity strategy for 2026 to 2030 on 16 December.

The consultation focuses on diseases and invertebrate pests. It does not focus on weeds as a pest. However, weeds are a crop pest.

They reduce yield, increase the need for herbicide use, risk increasing herbicide resistance levels and some herbicides will not control these weeds.

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As has been detailed numerous times in this publication, grass weeds are a major problem on Irish tillage farms.

In November, we reported that blackgrass seed and other grass weeds were entering this country in cover crop seed and straw.

Blackgrass, wild oats, sterile brome and ryegrass were found in cover crop seed.

Imported straw

A massive 19,865t of straw had been imported into Ireland from Britain from January to August.

A large amount of this straw is coming from blackgrass-infested areas such as Lincolnshire and a possible 200m to 2.2bn blackgrass seeds could be entering the country in these shipments, posing a serious risk to tillage farms in Ireland and plant health and crop yields.

Blackgrass and wild oats are noxious weeds in Ireland, but their seed is still being freely imported into the country.

According to the draft strategy, in 2021, 8,942 physical inspections were carried out on consignments into the country for plant diseases and pests.

Commodities

In total, eight different seed commodities were tested, including cereals, forage grasses, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, trees and wildflowers.

Cover crop seed should be added to this list and as seed is being inspected, it should be inspected for weed seeds. Straw should also be subject to inspection.

These products should be refused entry into the country if they contain weed seeds of wild oats and blackgrass at a minimum, as these weeds are listed as part of the Noxious Weeds Act in Ireland, so should not be imported to allow them to grow in Ireland.

Make a submission to the consultation

The consultation is open until 5pm on 9 January and feedback can be sent to PHBStrategy2026-2030@agriculture.gov.ie.

The strategy is available on the Government’s website and anyone can make a submission to the consultation, however big or small.