Ragwort, a weed poisonous to horses and cows, resembles a tall dandelion with yellow flowers. In the 1930s, New Zealand farmers used a herbicide called sodium chlorate to eradicate it, but it became flammable and caused injuries, including exploding pants. Sheep and goats now graze on ragwort.
Jacobaea vulgaris is a sneaky weed known in agricultural circles as ragwort. When mature, ragwort resembles a tall dandelion, with a bright yellow flower with long, thin petals. Farmers have been trying to eradicate ragweed for years, and at one point in 1930s New Zealand, the war on ragwort became dangerous for dairy farmers looking to spray it away.
The New Zealand Department of Agriculture had recommended the use of a herbicide called sodium chlorate, and it was effective against ragwort. The downside was that when the chemical dried, it became highly caustic. Many farmers found this out the hard way when their pants started bursting, sometimes causing injuries.
Scientists eventually discovered that the herbicide — sodium chlorate powder mixed with water — became flammable as the water evaporated, leaving tiny crystals embedded in the fibers of farmers’ jeans.
The Curious Case of the Exploding Pants:
A farmer made local news after his pants exploded. He had hung the wet pants by the fire to dry them, and before long the pants caught fire.
Other farmers have suffered severe burns when their trousers literally caught fire while they were still wearing them.
Ragwort is poisonous to horses and cows, making ground cover in pastures unacceptable. The stomachs of sheep and goats can tolerate ragwort, and those animals are now used to trying to keep the grass from growing out of control.
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