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Show SUMMIT COUNTY NEWS PAGE A4 Conservation Corner 4NRCs Do you have a weed problem? BY DOUGLAS GARFIELD Soil Conservationist Technician Utah NRCS If you have traveled to Ogden recently you probably noticed the carpet of bright yellow flowers about 3 feet high blanketing the roadside in Weber Canyon. It may be pretty to look at but there is nothing beautiful about the plants negative effect on the landscape. The invader is a plant called Dyer's Woad, and it has taken over the roadside slopes in Weber Canyon as well as many other areas in the state. It is just one example of an ever increasing army of invading plants that is spreading rapidly throughout the west. No areas are safe; millions of acres have already been invaded or are at risk in North America. Weeds are having serious impacts on croplands reducing crop yields as well as rangelands reducing grazing forage and degrading wildlife habitat. Economic losses from weeds run in the billions annually. They also have negative effects on watersheds as they alter plant communities which can result in increased fire frequency and soil erosion. Noxious weed infestations can lead to permanent changes in the plant community which may prevent them from returning to their native state. Now is the time to determine if you have a weed problem and get on top of it. Preventing noxious weed infestation requires constant vigilance by the landowner. Weeds are opportunistic and will exploit any type of surface disturbance. The less you disturb the soil the better. A key element to waging war on weeds is to develop a scouting and spraying program to identify locations that have weed infestations, the species involved, and the acreage affected. Weed species identification may be challenging in some cases. Some counties have pub- lished weed guides to help in the identification of noxious weeds. Utah State University Extension Service has also published a Noxious Weed Field Guide for Utah. This guide can be obtained at your local extension office. These guides provide photographs and descriptions to aid in weed identification as well as recommended control methods and herbicides. It is important that proper procedures and protocols be followed to maximize weed kill. This can be done safely and responsibly to minimize impacts on the environment. Apply the correct amount of herbicide to be used. Don't follow the old adage that, "If a little bit is good, a lot is better". Follow the label directions exactly, the label is the law, and applying not as specified is against the law. Apply herbicide to plants till wet, not dripping wet. Too much spray causes incidental kill to non target plants. It is a good idea to purchase herbicides which have a dye in them to make it easier to identify areas that have been sprayed, thus preventing over application. Spraying should occur only under optimum conditions with no wind. Herbicide application should be carried out during the coolest part of the day, ideally before dusk after the heat of the day. Spraying during the hottest time of the day can result in vaporization of the herbicide spreading to non-target plants. Make sure you will not have precipitation within 2 days after application so the herbicide is not washed off and can produce an effective kill. Other methods of weed control exist besides herbicides and can be very effective under the right circumstances. Mechanical methods such as disking, harrowing or pulling weeds can be very successful. You need to be careful however; soil disturbance will always result in the challenge of weeds. Make sure you are replacing weeds with a desir- able plant type suitable to existing conditions. Breaking up the soil without treatment first can result in a worse weed problem than what you started with. Bio-Control is another method that is becoming more common. Certain bugs and rusts are being used with success in controlling specific species of weeds. Proper documentation of herbicide application is important. Spraying records should be kept current as to what herbicide was applied. It is also critical to document how you applied the herbicide. Was it applied using a tractor and spray boom, a four- wheeler or a back pack sprayer? Document the date, time and specific locations of weed control. This type of record keeping will not only make you more effective at what you are trying to accomplish but in the long run will save you money and give you an upper hand in the war on weeds. Record keeping is just responsible management and this type of documentation is also required to participate in federal programs. With an increasing population, a mobile society and greater demands placed on our land base the war on weeds is only going to intensify. It is imperative that each of us form the backyard gardener to the largest land manger use the best science and technology available in an effective, responsible manner if we are going to slow and reverse the advance of noxious weeds across the west. Summit County has an aggressive weed control program. Contact David Bingham at (435) 336-3979 or (435) 640-5496. The NRCS can also assist with noxious weed management through various programs. Feel free to contact us in either the Coalville (435) 336-5853 or the Ogden (801) 629-0580 NRCS Field Offices. NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer. JUNE 15, 2012 Summit County Farm Bureau Women's Committee creative story contest winners Each year the Summit County Farm Bureau Women's Committee sponsors a creative story contest for students in grades 3-8 throughout the county. Most Americans are two or three generations removed from the farm, so this contest is a great opportunity for school age children to think about the source of the food which they eat every day. The Farm Bureau hopes to encourage students to gain a greater understanding of Utah's agricultural industry and the role that farmers and ranchers play in supplying food, fiber, fuel and other farm products. This year's theme was "If I Were a Farmer..." Over 500 short stories were submitted for judging. The following winners were chosen from the stories turned in: 3rd Grade: Dakota Jones, North Summit Elementary; Cassidy Blazzard, South Summit Elementary; Taigon Lewis, South Summit Elementary. 4th Grade: Audri Richins, North Summit Elementary; Jane Staples, South Summit Elementary; Ali Maxfield, South Summit Elementary 5th Grade: Eric McCluskey, South Summit Middle School; Stockton Mitchell, South Summit Middle School; Peyton Pace, North Summit Middle School 6th Grade: Alayna Hansen, South Summit Middle School; Diana Felipe, South Summit Middle School; Ellie Jo Butikofer, South Summit Middle School Grade: Martina 8th Hebert, Treasure Mountain Middle School; Jackson McGaw, Treasure Mountain Middle School; Xavier Price, Treasure Mountain Middle School 1st place winners received $25; 2nd place winners were awarded $15, and 3rd place winners were given $10. All 1st place winning entries were submitted to the Utah State Farm Bureau to be judged on a state level. 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