May 15 03.qxd 12/7/2021 Volume VIII Issue III 4:02 PM Page 13 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 13 May 15, 2003 The Impact of Weeds in Our Lives Note: This article is copied and adapted from Weber County’s Weed Web Site. Weeds Are a subject that may not seem worth much thought when measured against the myriad of duties and distractions that are leading us full speed into the twenty-first century. However, we do feel that it is more a matter of awareness than an absence of an assigned level of importance in peoples lives. When asked if they are aware of weeds, most people will mention dandelions in their lawn or puncturevine in the driveway. Effective awareness runs much deeper than the simple knowledge that weeds exist. Effective awareness means that we understand the negative impact of weeds in our environment. It is this kind of individual enlightenment that drives us to build and distribute a web site dealing with weeds in Northern Utah. Our Awareness of the weeds in the environment is already stored in the back of our minds. Many experience the discomfort of itchy eyes, scratchy skin or a runny nose. Others recall vividly when bare feet came in contact with a “goat head” along side of the house. Still others have noticed that livestock appear to not have had enough to eat even though the pasture looks green. The anglers among us have memories of a struggle to access a great looking fishing hole through some kind of horrible, prickly weed. These examples, easily remembered and understood, are a good start. But the kind of appreciation, if you will, of noxious weeds in our lives that we would have you grasp is on a bit larger scale. Noxious Weeds spoil things for the vast majority of us! They can render sports and recreation sites useless while destroying the businesses that serve them. Weeds harm public health, crops, livestock, and the land. Many of the items on your grocery list have damages or loss from noxious weeds already added into the price you pay at the register. Even with this said, our goal to bring you to a better understanding of the impact that weeds have is made more difficult by the size of the problem. Millions of acres of any- thing, especially weeds, are like millions of miles of ocean. It’s not easy to wrap our reasoning around such large figures. Even so, the fact remains that our land is infested with weeds . . . millions and millions of acres of weeds. There are thousands upon thousands of acres of thistles, knapweeds, bindweed, woad, and noxious grasses here in Northern Utah alone! native to the Western United States, they are highly adaptive and thrive here. It is of note that many of these weeds were introduced by our pioneer ancestors who unknowingly utilized contaminated hay or grain as they settled in the West. Regardless of the method of introduction, noxious weeds are here and they are spreading even today. We Encourage you to expand your knowl- methods, and timing suggestions for each weed. Also to be considered are the weeds identified as future trouble here in Utah. Those “New and Invading” species are listed separately, although, in many cases, we give them top billing in our weed eradication efforts. For more information contact: Weber County Weed Department: 801-399-8356 (Please leave a voice mail message.) State Agricultural Inspector in Weber County 801-399-8380 USU Extension Agent in Weber County 801-399-8200 Weber County Weed Web Site http://www.co.weber.ut.us/WEEDS/weeds.html NOTE: On the web site you can find identifying characteristics of the 18 Utah noxious weeds, helps on weed control, and information on biological weed control efforts in Weber County. Utah Noxious Weed List The following weeds are officially designated and published as noxious for the State of Utah, as per the authority vested in the Commissioner of Agriculture under Section 4-17-3, Utah Noxious Weed Act: Dyer's woad can be seen growing throughout the Valley. Property owners are being asked to contain the noxious weed by eliminating it before it goes to seed. One Key to understanding the serious nature of noxious weeds—most of these weeds DO NOT fit in our world. By definition, a weed is simply a plant out of place. For instance, a rose in a field of corn is a weed. Most noxious weed species are not a part of our historical, natural eco-system. With few exceptions, they are not utilized as forage nor as habitat. Noxious weeds are an introduced blight on our lands. Although most are not edge about noxious weeds. Visit your local Extension Agent, Ag Inspector, park ranger or federal land manager about specific weed problems in the area. Our natural resource heritage depends on your involvement! Visit our web site at: www.co.weber.ut.us/WEEDS/weeds.html Each link will direct you to a photograph of the weed and some information regarding growth habit, impact, and identification. In addition, you will find links to weed control Bermuda Grass Bindweed (Morning Glory) Broadleaved Peppergrass Canada Thistle Dyer’s Woad Johnson Grass Leafy Spurge Musk Thistle Quackgrass Russian Knapweed Scotch Thistle Whitetop Squarrose Knapweed Diffuse Knapweed Yellow Starthistle Medusahead Rye Spotted Knapweed Purple Loosestrife