Banner year for tansy ragwort, a toxic, noxious weed

Washington Ag Today August 19, 2011 It is not established in eastern Washington and it is not wanted there. But it is having a banner year in western Washington thanks to the cooler weather this year. “It” says the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board is tansy ragwort. The plant is classified as a Class B noxious weed in Washington due to its toxicity and invasiveness.

Tansy ragwort is designated for control in many counties throughout the state, which means that landowners in those counties are required by law to control and prevent the spread of this noxious weed. It can be lethal to cattle and horses and to a lesser extent goats.

The noxious weed is a tap-rooted biennial or short lived perennial plant that is native to Eurasia. Tansy ragwort often grows where land has been disturbed and where grass and other plants are sparse. It is commonly found on roadsides, in heavily grazed pastures, fields and cleared forested areas.

You can get assistance in identification and control of tansy ragwort from Washington State University extension offices and conservation districts.

The USDA designates August as Invasive Plant Disease Awareness Month Gregory Parham is administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Parham: “These destructive pests can jeopardize the livelihood of our farmers, ranchers and foresters and they can forever alter our natural landscape.”

Parham says the impact of invasive pests adds up.

Parham: “Some scientists even estimate that the economic impacts from invasive species exceeds one billion dollars annually in the United States.”

And that does not include extensive ecosystem damage.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.