Blackgrass declared Noxious Weed in Ireland

Blackgrass has been officially designated as a noxious weed in Ireland, meaning landowners are now responsible for controlling it.

Blackgrass is a significant weed control problem in Ireland, and it has been designated as a noxious weed. It is now an offense for landowners and occupiers to allow its spread, according to a recent Noxious Weeds Order.

Blackgrass has been identified in most tillage counties in Ireland, albeit at low levels, and is a concern due to its potential for herbicide resistance

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today signed a new Statutory Instrument on Noxious Weeds meaning that the non-native annual grass has been designated a noxious weed for the first time.

The Statutory Instrument also consolidates all secondary legislation on noxious weeds and limits controls to certain species of thistle and dock.

Minister Heydon said, “Blackgrass poses a significant weed control challenge in this country. Adding Blackgrass to the list of noxious weeds now requires landowners to take responsibility for the control of this weed on their land. It is also timely to remind farmers, Local Authorities and others that it is an offence for owners and occupiers of land not to prevent the spread of noxious weeds”.

The Department issues ‘Notices to Destroy’ letters in all instances where it becomes aware of the presence of noxious weeds, either from inspections or as a result of reports made by the public. In addition, farmers are obliged under conditionality requirements to take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of noxious weeds under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) number 8. Failure to do so may result in the application of a reduction of their area-based payments.

The Department also engages with all County Councils, Local Authorities and the National Roads Authority to ensure a consistent programme of treatment and disposal of noxious weeds on an ongoing basis.

Under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936 it is an offence for owners and occupiers of land not to prevent the spread of specified weeds. The noxious weeds specified in the legislation are: Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.), Broad-Leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.), Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn.), Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.), Curled Dock (Rumex crispus L.), Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.), Spring Wild Oat (Avena fatua L.) and Winter Wild Oat (Avena sterilis L.). The Department launched a Public Consultation on 1 November 2004, setting out proposals to amend the existing secondary legislation on noxious weeds. The inclusion of Blackgrass in the legislation was a recommendation of the Food Vision 2030 Tillage.