It is a key part of being a good neighbor and sometimes it is the law, depending on the weed species. Controlling weeds is healthy for the environment since invasive species decrease the diverse community of native plants.
The Montana State University Extension Office in Ravalli County is hosting an all-day “Herbicide Applicators Spring Safety Training” on Saturday, April 7.The training will cover herbicide safety, equipment calibration (with hands-on practice), weed identification and best management practices for pests. It will also give six credits to licensed herbicide applicators.
Patrick Mangan, extension agent, said the workshop will have good information for weed and pest identification.
“The focus is on management strategies,” Mangan said. “We’ll help landowners find the right tool that lines up with the timing of the weed growth, their management strategies, goals and values.”
Mangan said the program is worthwhile for landowners with acreage of any size.
“A lot of people can use the information because if you’re struggling with weeds in your yard there are a lot of things that crossover,” he said.
Herbicides are not the only tool available to landowners and the presentation will also cover biocontrol — for six weed species there are natural enemy insects that can be released as a control element. Other options include mechanical controls such as grazing, burning, mowing, tilling, hand pulling and encouraging competition with desirable species.
“It is about finding the strategies of what can we do that align with your goals and values,” Mangan said. “We’ll present all the tools and when they will work effectively.”
The second focus of the workshop day is the private applicator training licenses designed for land owners choosing to use restricted use pesticides. Part of the licensing process is getting the recertification credits over the five-year license. The workshop meets those needs.
“Landowners have to have a license to purchase and use those on their own property,” Mangan said. “Everyone in Ravalli County with the private applicator license it will expire at the end of this year. This is the first push to help people get their re-certification credits before their license expires.”
Montana Department of Agriculture grants the license and the training is a partnership between MDA and MSU Extension.
Presenters include Killieann Morris – coordinator of Ravalli County Weed District, Christy Schram – weed educator of Ravalli County Weed District, Tonda Moon – MDA, Tom Burge – assistant director of Ravalli County Weed District, Dave Brink – MSU Extension in Mineral County and Mangan.
“It is all the stakeholders building a training presentation for people who need these credits,” Mangan said. “There is a lot of great information for people even if they don’t want or need the license.”
Presentations include identifying noxious weeds, implementing an integrated pest management plan, biocontrol options, label reading, herbicide safety and correct usage.
“We encourage everyone to read the label and you’ve entered a contract with the government and the company that makes the product,” Mangan said. “Label information includes how to protect yourself, how to protect the environment and how to make good choices and it is the applicators responsibility to understand all of the pieced of that label as they use the product.”
The presentation will also talk about personal protective equipment, calibration of equipment and the application rate of pesticides.
“Applicators should understand how much of the product they are putting on the land,” Mangan said. “They need to calibrate the flow of their equipment and we’ll teach them and show them how much their equipment is metering out over an area and how they can scale that up to become the gallons of water and product being applied per acre.”
Licensed producers need to attend this workshop or another like it in another county. Current private application license holders need to bring their license to the training to receive the credits. Check the MDA website or call the extension office in Hamilton for details.
“Ravalli County has a lot of people who bought new property or maybe it is the first property they have ever owned so it is about learning as much as they can about their property,” Mangan said. “Weeds are one of the things we have and getting rid of weeds is important.”
Lunch will be provided and the second half of the day will focus on equipment, safety checks and how to calibrate equipment for the correct application.
Contact the MSU Extension Office at 406-375-6611 and pay the $15 course fee by April 5 to attend the “Herbicide Applicators Spring Safety Training” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, at Corvallis Grange Hall, 130 Dutch Hill Rd, Hamilton.
credit:ravallirepublic.com