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Poison Ivy and Plant Hazards

Fence lines, wood edges and overgrown corners hide plants that irritate skin or poison animals. Knowing your local hazards is the first step to avoiding them.

Which plants cause trouble on farms?

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are well-known causes of itchy rashes, and their oils can cling to tools, clothing and pets. Other plants can cause skin burns after sun exposure, irritate the eyes and airways, or poison livestock that graze or eat contaminated hay.

Which plants are present depends on where you live. Your county extension office can show you how to identify local hazards, and many publish photos and descriptions. Learn what grows along your fence lines and woodlots.

Some plants cause trouble only in certain conditions, such as after cutting, in dry spells or when they are baled into hay. Ask your extension office which seasonal changes matter for your local plants.

• Rash-causing plants
• Plants that cause burns with sun exposure
• Plants poisonous to livestock
• Local species differ

How do you avoid contact?

Wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots in brushy areas, and be careful when clearing fence rows, ditches and wood edges. Do not burn plants you suspect are poison ivy, since smoke can carry the oils into the lungs and the eyes. Ask your extension office about safe removal methods.

Wash tools, gloves and clothes after working in suspect areas, and avoid touching your face. Pets and livestock can carry oils on their coats, so be careful when handling them afterward.

Clothing that touched a plant should be handled carefully when removed, and washed separately according to health guidance. Check the CDC for details on how to limit the spread of oils.

• Cover skin in brushy areas
• Never burn suspect plants
• Wash tools and clothing after work
• Keep hands away from your face

What should you do after contact?

The CDC and dermatology groups describe steps for washing and caring for exposed skin. Read their guidance and follow it rather than relying on home remedies. See a health care provider for a rash that is severe, spreads widely, affects the face or eyes, or does not improve.

Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or signs of a serious allergic reaction. If you are around burning brush, get away from the smoke and seek care if you have trouble breathing.

Keep a record of rashes, dates and likely exposure, which helps a provider decide on treatment and whether the cause is a plant or something else.

How do you control unwanted plants?

Mowing, hand removal and herbicides are options, and each has risks. Pesticide labels carry legal safety directions and must be followed. Check the EPA pesticides page and your state agriculture department for rules, and ask your extension office what works for the species you have.

Do not mix products or use one for a purpose not on the label. If you hire a contractor, ask about licensing and what rules your state requires.

When you hire seasonal help to clear brush or fence lines, tell them what plants are present and show them photos. New workers often meet these plants for the first time on the job.

What about plants and livestock?

Some plants are toxic to livestock, especially when pasture is short, drought has stressed the field, or hay is contaminated. Your veterinarian and extension service can advise on identifying risk plants and what signs to watch for in each species.

Check pastures regularly and remove hazardous plants where practical. If an animal shows sudden illness after eating a plant, call your veterinarian immediately.

How do you teach the farm family and workers?

Show children and new workers what the local plants look like. A short walk along the fence line each spring, with samples or photos, is more effective than a lecture. Keep a printed guide in the shop or barn.

Make sure everyone knows how to wash up after exposure and where to find supplies. Encourage workers to report rashes and to see a provider rather than hide them.

Reflect on older equipment and tools too. Handles and gloves can hold oils for a long time, so wash them as official guidance describes before reuse.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.