A Heads-up on the pasture-destroying Giant Buttercup

Giant Buttercup is on the march. Though not officially a pest-plant in Southland it has had a negative economic impact on dairy farms in other regions and there have been some recent sightings of it in Southland.

Environment Southland Senior Biosecurity Officer, Randall Milne says Giant Buttercup is extremely difficult to control once established in pastures and he’d like to know more about where it is found in Southland.

Giant Buttercup is well established and problematic in Taranaki and the Nelson Bays area. According to AgResearch it can reduce a typical Golden Bay dairy farm profit by 36 percent. Overall, it is responsible for an industry loss of up to $150 million annually in milk solids’ revenue.

Mr Milne said that some dairy industry people from up north who are familiar with Giant Buttercup have noticed it in Southland. “It’s not a problem in our pastures at this stage, but it is a threat and this is an early heads-up for dairy farmers, in particular,” he says.

Giant Buttercup can significantly reduce edible pastures by as much as 50 percent, as well as affect animal health. It quickly overwhelms clover and grass. While it is poisonous and unpalatable to cattle, sheep will graze it without coming to any harm.

Originally from Europe and Northern Asia, Giant Buttercup is an invasive perennial plant with deeply serrated leaves – this is one feature that distinguishes it from ordinary buttercup, which has more rounded leaves.

It also has clusters of glossy yellow flowers (2–3cm wide) on stems 50–70cm tall. After flowering these are replaced by overwintering rosettes. During its life it flowers and seeds many times.

The seeds tend to fall near parent plants, but can spread into pastures via hay that is being fed out. Farmers can avoid this by ensuring they know the source of the hay they’re purchasing. The seeds can also move around by sticking to animals, equipment, footwear and clothing.

If anyone has come across Giant Buttercup they should contact Randall Milne at Environment Southland by emailing service@es.govt.nz or telephoning 03 211 5115.

For more information on Giant Buttercup, what it looks like, how it affects pasture and what to do about it, go to the PestwebNZ website, www.pestweb.co.nz.

ENDS

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