The Rural Voice, 1978-12, Page 30Tansy ragwort, a poisonous weed that
causes Pictou cattle disease, is spreading,
according to environmental biologists at
the University of Guelph.
"We knew there was a patch of the weed
in southern Wellington County," says Jack
Alex, environmental biologist. "However,
it has spread to adjacent counties in the
past two years."
Surveys, conducted by the university,
located 10 patches of the weed near Guelph
in 1977. This summer and autumn, more
than 40 patches were identified, as far as
35 km from the original habitat.
Tansy ragwort is toxic to livestock,
especially cattle, says Dr. Alex. Alkaloids
in the plant cause liver failure. In most
cases, the disease develops slowly as the
animals consume small amounts of the
weed daily. Eating one plant is unlikely to
be fatal, although it may cause the animals
to become unthrifty. If animals eat Targe
amounts of the weed, however, they will
die sooner. Animals with the disease
isolate themselves from the rest of the
herd, experience chills and nervousness,
and show a general decline in condition.
"Cases of Pictou cattle disease were
common in Nova Scotia early in this
century," says Dr. Alex. "However, no
cases have yet been reported in Ontario.
The weed is not a serious problem here
now, but farmers should check old pastures
and hay fields periodically."
Tansy ragwort cavi be mistaken for St.
John's -wort or goldenrod because of its
yellow flowers. The plant blooms from July
until late October. One unusual character-
istic of this weed is its unpleasant odor.
Because of this, it is sometimes called
'stinking Willie.'
Spot -spraying with heavy concentrations
of 2, 4-D provides effective control for
young plants. Cultivation and reseeding of
pastures controls older plants.
Next summer, with the financial assist-
ance of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, Dr. Alex will attempt biological
control of tansy ragwort using insects such
as the cinnabar moth.
Farmers can help the tansy ragwort
project by reporting suspected plants to the
Department of Environmental Biology.
University of Guelph.
Fungi,not cold
damages wheat
Fungi, not cold weather, has been
responsible for much of the damage to
wheat and rye planted each fall and
harvested the following summer, according
to Lou Piening, plant pathologist at
Agriculture Canada's research station at
Lacombe, Alta.
The Alberta findings have some bearing
in Ontario, especially winter wheat, says
Lloyd Seaman, at the federal research
station in Ottawa.
Seaman has suspected for a couple of
years now that the survival problem with
Ontario wheat has more to it than just cold
weather.
Fungi was involved in most of the winter
kill found last year between Guelph and
Ailsa Craig, though not necessarily the
same fungi found in southern Alberta.
Seaman is not certain to what extent
fungi and weather are responsible for
winter kill. But in Alberta, according to
Piening, fungi was totally responsible for
winter kill in test plots last year.
Three rows of snow
fence for best results
Proper positioning of trees or convent-
ional snow fences provides effective snow
control for Ontario farm lanes, says F.H.
Theakston. School of Engineering, Univer-
sity of Guelph. Snow fences can be erected
now. but it's late to plant trees this year.
"Install three rows of snow fences on the
laneway's windward side for best results.
Place the first fence 18 m from the
laneway, and the others the same distance
Don't throw away that inefficient Franklin Stove
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ATWOOD (Dominion Hardware) 356-9002
PG. 30 THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1978
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