Alert on as lesser canary grass scourge threatens to create crop havoc

TILLAGE farmers have been put on alert to watch for lesser canary grass and to eliminate this troublesome weed before it becomes established.

Serious harvesting delays were caused on a Co Wicklow farm in 2002 when the strong stems of a lesser canary grass infestation in spring barley wrapped around the intake auger of the combine harvester.

Teagasc advisers have also identified it in barley in Tipperary and beet in Cork.