| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Dave Burch |
| June 19, 2007 | (406) 444-5400 |
Ag Officials Put Muscle into Third Annual Weed Pull
HELENA, Mont. — Staff members of the Montana Department of Agriculture, joined by colleagues from other state agencies and weed advisory councils, will participate in hand-to-hand combat with noxious weeds June 21, 2007, in the department's third annual weed pull.
As many as 50 volunteers will test their knowledge of noxious weeds and native plants while removing weeds from the area surrounding the Tenmile Water Treatment Plant, located about five miles west of Helena at 1115 Rimini Road, starting at 9:45 a.m. Thursday. Dalmatian toadflax and spotted knapweed are the two primary weed species on the property.
Shortly before noon, the group will move to Moose Creek Campground for additional weed maintenance, plant identification and lunch.
Joining the event this year will be members and associates from the state
Noxious Weed Summit Advisory Council as well as other state agencies and
tribal representatives. The Lewis & Clark County Weed District will
again provide a truck and crew to haul and dispose of the weeds collected.
"Last year, department employees and volunteers including first lady
Nancy Schweitzer disposed of nearly a ton of noxious weeds pulled from public
land near the treatment plant and the campground. With perennial weeds such
as knapweed, repeated efforts are often required for effective control,"
says Nancy K. Peterson, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
Spotted knapweed, with its characteristic purple flowers, is the number one range weed in western Montana and infests more than 3.8 million acres statewide. Dalmatian toadflax, which has waxy leaves and yellow flowers resembling those of a snapdragon, is another Category 1 noxious weed that crowds out native species and is spreading rapidly across Montana.
The statewide noxious weed list currently contains 27 weeds. Counties also can devise their own noxious weed lists to keep other invasive species from spreading. Landowners are responsible for controlling noxious weeds.
The department is involved in a Zero Spread campaign in a collaborative effort with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Montana Weed Control Association. For more information on the campaign, call the association at 406-684-5590 or contact the department at 406-444-3144 or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
