Reports of the potentially devastating blackgrass weed have increased significantly this year. The weed can cause severe yield reductions in cereals, with just 12 plants/m2 leading to 5% yield reduction.

The grass weed remains a significant issue for UK farms, with 98% of it’s population now resistant to at least one form of herbicide. Glyphosate is the latest herbicide to show reduced sensitivity to the weed.

Growers fear that these resistant strains are now in Ireland, having entered the country through UK straw and machinery imports.

There are a few established pockets of the weed around the country, including areas in Louth, Meath and Dublin, as well as Cork, Tipperary and Limerick.

Control

Growers are urged to act immediately if they spot the weed and adopt an integrated approach to control, such hand roguing, spot treating, mowing the infected area or stale seedbeds.

Listen: Blackgrass is here and it's on the rise

How to find out if you have resistant grass weeds

Spike in blackgrass cases

Reported cases of the highly competitive grass weed have been growing over the past number of years.