As
you look out over your acres this spring, are
you nervous you might see too much tansy, Canada
thistle, and other noxious weeds?New Boundary County Weed Superintendent Dave Wenk is announcing a program for landowners to control noxious weeds on their property. The program, called Neighborhood Cooperative Weed Control, has $11,000 available for landowners to use to knock out those weeds.
Boundary County is a member of the Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Association (SCWMA), which is a collaborative of government and private agencies, including, along with Boundary County, Bonner County, the Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Nature Conservatory, the Idaho Department of Transportation, the City of Sandpoint, and the U.S. Forest Service.
The $11,000 available for the Neighborhood Cooperative Weed Control program comes from the Idaho Department of Agriculture by way of the SCWMA.
"The goal is to have property owners control as many acres as possible of noxious and invasive weeds on their property by providing funds to help accomplish this," said Mr. Wenk.
To be eligible for this program, an applicant must be a property owner in Boundary County and have noxious or invasive weeds on their property. The weeds must be included on the Idaho Noxious Weed List, which contains 67 weeds. Common weeds on the list are Knapweed, Common Tansy, Oxeye Daisy, Dalmatian Toadflax, Yellow Toad flax, Canada Thistle, Orange and Yellow Hawkweed among others. A complete list is available on the Boundary County Website under Weed Control or at Idahoweedawareness.com.
Application forms are available at the University of Idaho Extension Office behind the courthouse. Applications are due by March 31, 2016.
Property owners may apply individually or as a group. When the application form is completed, the Weed Superintendent will visit the property to check that noxious weeds are present. If the applicant is accepted into this program, the work begins.
"The landowner then purchases the chemicals to control, and sprays the weeds. Typically landowners spray the weeds themselves. Labor costs are not reimbursed," said Mr. Wenk.
The weed superintendent later visits the property again to make sure the herbicide application was done and was successful. The landowner turns in their receipts for the herbicides, and the county will issue a check to the landowner.
"Chemicals purchased must be a selective type to control the weeds and not a general 'Kill -all' like glyphosate," said Mr. Wenk, who added he is available to make recommendations of herbicides to control the weeds.
"Landowners may receive up to $500 for herbicide purchases," he continued.
Dave Wenk has been Boundary County Weed Superintendent since January 1, hired to replace Terry "Duke" Guthrie, who served for many years as Weed Superintendent and who retired last December 31, 2015. "With great sadness "Duke" passed away the day he retired," said Mr. Wenk. "He was well liked in the community and will be greatly missed."
Mr. Wenk has a background in the nursery industry, and brings his expertise and training to the Department.
"I have a bachelor of science degree in Urban Forestry. I was a long time applicator in Indiana before moving to Naples seven years ago.
"I'm looking forward to meeting many people in this great community and offer my assistance to our community. I may be reached at dwenk@boundarycounty.org or at 267-5341.