Watch the poisonous weeds

JUNIOR Agriculture Minister John Browne this week reminded all landowners of their responsibility to control the spread of poisonous weeds.

The weeds have to be attended to; never mind that farmers don’t know what crops they can grow between the weeds, or if they will have any cattle in danger of poisoning by eating ragwort.

It looks like some of them will have to get rid of up to half of the cattle. How many have to go depends on the interpretation of the 12,577 word Nitrates Regulations enacted last month.