On March 2, an information evening on problematic plants was held at the Biologische Station Siegen-Wittgenstein as part of our project. The focus was on Common Ragwort (Jakobskreuzkraut, JKK), Autumn Crocus, and Many-Leafed Lupine. The main goal was to provide local farmers with information about these plants’ characteristics and concrete recommendations for action.
Dr. Dominik Schüßler, project leader, provided an overview of our LIFE project. Mr. Henner Braach, Vice President of the WLV, opened the evening with an introduction to the historical development of the native Common Ragwort and explained how it became a problematic plant.
Prof. Dr. Mantilla-Contreras presented the characteristics of Common Ragwort, Autumn Crocus, and Many-Leafed Lupine, highlighting the risks they pose to grazing animals on pastures and in dried hay.
The main part of the evening was the presentation on experiences from the Antago Senecio project, delivered by M.Sc. Johanna Lill and Dipl.-Ing. Jörn Milnikel.
At the end of the evening, Dr. Dominik Schüßler summarized the key recommendations for farmers: After working on areas with problematic plants, machinery should be cleaned to prevent spreading. Open soil patches favor the growth of Common Ragwort, so driving tracks should be minimized. For small populations, pulling out individual plants is recommended, while for larger populations, removing flower heads should be the main focus to reduce seed production.
