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Show Plan War Now on Those Dormant Weeds, Seeds Though weeds and seeds are now buried under a foot or more of snow, it's time to plan to get a jump on them for 1982, advises Rick Chase, extension weed specialist, Utah State University. Chase especially urges action to prevent spread of weeds that now infest a relatively few acres but pose a serious threat to Utah agriculture as they spread. Citing the problems of musk thistle and dyers woad, he said, "It is human nature to ignore a problem until it gets to be serious, then it becomes extremely difficut to solve. Musk thistle, for example, was first identified in the state only 17 years ago. Now it is found in at least 22 of our 29 counties and it is doing considerable damage and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars for its control. Dyers woad, which emerged as a threat in Utah in the 1920's, has become widespread. We are engaged in efforts to prevent futher spread of noninfested counties. Much better would it have been to establish an effective control program while either problem was in its infancy." Chase noted that the Utah 1980 Exotic Noxious Weed Survey identified several weeds, such as velvetleaf and jointed goatgrass, that pose a serious threat to the state's agriculture though they presently are infesting only small acreages. He asks, "Isn't it time now to put funds and effort into controlling these weeds before they become widespread and impossible to eradicate?" Concerning these two weeds, Chase said, "While velvetleaf (the number one worst weed in corn and soybeans in the Midwest) is a tough weed, we can prevent it from spreading if we start a rigorous control program now. Prevenative steps are also critical for jointed goatgrass. It must be controlled during the fallow year in winter grain crops. The worst possible approach on any one of the threatening weed problems is to ignore it and hope someone else will do something about it " The USU Extension Service Utah Weed Control Handbook 19R2. available in early February, will give specific instructions for controlling these and many other weeds. Also, cooperation in iden tifying, 'preventing and solving serious weed problems in Utah will theme the State Weed Conference Wednesday, Feb. 24. Invited to par ticipate are farmers and ranchers, county weed supervisors, county extension agents, state and federal agency personnel, university personnel and chemical company representatives. Reservations may be made now at the University Residence Center next door to the Eccles Conference Center on the USU campus where the weed conference meetings will be held. Contacting the local county extension agent for details |