Rushes are a common feature on many farms throughout Northern Ireland and are usually found in damp ground conditions associated with heavy clay soils, according to Ian Browne, Countryside Management Delivery Branch, DARD.
Small areas of rush can favour many ground nesting birds such as the curlew and the snipe.
They also provide cover for the Irish hare and many small birds such as the meadow pipit.
Heavy infestations, however, have an adverse impact on both the grazing value and the diverse range of plants found in the sward.
Farmers participating in an agri-environment scheme must carry out rush control where the rush cover is more than a third of a field. Rushes should also be controlled to prevent them dominating the vegetation.
If rushes are not controlled and are not capable of being grazed this may be regarded as a breach of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) which could have implications for Single Farm Payment and other direct payments.
Rush control can be carried out in a variety of ways. The main ones include topping and weed wiping. With the exception of improved grassland, participants in an agri-environment scheme should only control rushes from 15 July – 15 March each year in order to protect the chicks of ground nesting birds and the offspring of the Irish hare.
Agri-environment participants who cannot carry out rush control as required under their agreement should contact Countryside Management staff.
Approval may be given for alternative methods of rush control.
Topping has been the traditional method of rush control on many farms and when rushes are frequently topped they are more palatable for livestock.
However, if it is difficult to access land where rushes are growing because the ground conditions are unsuitable, weed wiping may be used as a method of rush control.
(Source – Impartial Reporter – 22/08/2013)
Rush control is an important aspect of habitat management in species rich grasslands.