Agricultural contractors in Northern Ireland are confirming that broadleaf weeds in grassland are becoming a major challenge in 2026.

These include: docks, ragwort, and thistles:

John Johnston provides a farm contracting business in the Fintona area of Co. Tyrone.

He attributes the enhanced weed challenge to the fast changing weather conditions that have characterised the spring and summer months up to this point.

Johnston explained: “Sward growth was curtailed during March and April because of the cool, wet conditions prevailing at that time.

“We then had the hot spell at the end of May, at which time growth really took off, particularly where weeds are concerned.

Johnston made these comments while attending an on-farm demonstration of a a new computerised, spot spraying system, the Rumbojet 880, designed specifically to control broadleaf weeds in grass swards.

The event was held on lands located close to Dungannon and owned by Alastair Wilson, who specialises in finishing cull cows.

According to Wilson: “Thistles are a real challenge in grass swards at the present time.

And this provides a real challenge for me as they are a weed that can predispose grazing cows to mastitis.”

Danny O’Mahoney, a farmer and contractor from Castleisland in Co Kerry, attended the farm demonstration.

He highlighted the growing awareness on the part of grassland farmers of the need to effectively control broadleaf weeds.

He added: “But spot spraying is the future. It is the only way that farmers can meet both their production and environmental targets at the same time.”

The Rumbojet sprayer combines modern lighting, cameras, computer software and spraying technologies that act in a combined manner to efficiently identify specific weeds in a grass sward, which are then selectively sprayed with a herbicide.

C W Agri has the exclusive distribution rights for the new technology across the island of Ireland

The company’s Stephen McKeown commented: “Key issues here are the major savings in herbicide usage, the fact that the system is so environmentally friendly and the significantly extended productive life that Rumbojet delivers for existing grass swards."

According to McKeown, the system is controlled "in a very straightforward manner" from the cab of the tractor using a simple control panel.

The Rumbojet 880 features six high performance cameras, which can take up to 90 pictures per second.

“In other words, the 8.8m sward width that is traversed by the cameras is photographed at 3cm spacings," McKeown continued.

The computer software at the heart of the Rumbojet 880 has been programmed to identify all the main weeds that feature in grassland swards at their various growth stages.

These include docks, ragwort, thistles, dandelions, and buttercups.

There is also a clover-friendly setting that can be availed of within the new system.