Story: Weeds of agriculture The vigorous, hardy weeds on New
Zealand farms and forest plantations can be harmful in many ways
– they poison animals, clog irrigation channels, and smother
crops. One weed, giant buttercup, costs the dairy industry over
$150 million each year in lost productivity and attempts at
control. Full story by Ian Popay Main image: Scotch thistle The
Short Story A quick, easy summaryRead the Full Story What is a
weed? Weeds are plants growing where they are not wanted. On
farms, plants are considered weeds if they grow among crops, in
forest plantations, or on pasture where animals graze. Māori and
weeds Māori burned the land and grew crops on it for a short
time, then let it become bush again. Invading plants like
bracken did not have time to become a problem, and Māori had no
word for ‘weed’. Crew on Captain James Cook’s second voyage to
New Zealand, in the early 1770s, planted vegetables they had
brought from England. Some of these, especially cabbages,
turnips and radishes, spread th