The province of Groningen is trying to eradicate the bright yellow common ragwort from some parts of the countryside by electrocuting the plants before their seeds spread, provincial official Leo Wenneger told RTV Noord on Wednesday.
The plant is prolific and provides a blast of colour in the late spring, but is poisonous to cows, sheep and horses if they eat too much of it, hence the province’s plan.
“We’re just ahead of the flowering season, which is in full swing in the second half of June,” Wenneger, who represents the pro-countryside BBB, told the broadcaster. “We want a structural solution to limit the problem, and this trial will make it clear if electrocution works or not.”
Common ragwort grows in fields and roadside verges, and a mature plant produces tens of thousands of seeds which germinate easily.
The transport ministry’s roads department used to plant it deliberately alongside highways but has since stopped because of the impact on livestock.
The province wants to find out if using an electric prod to kill the roots works as efficiently as mowing or chemical weedkiller.
Biologists, however, argue that the plant is good for biodiversity and its impact on farm animals is limited.
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