Weed Season Opener, 2024
Well, this lovely spring weather has given us a bumper crop, of weeds, that is!
Adams County Weed Control has already been out and about spraying Scotch thistle rosettes. Our warm winter and wet spring have brought forth an abundance! If you have ever had Scotch on your place, please be aware that each of those blooms can produce 400 seeds that can survive for 40+ years.
We’ve also seen a few Houndstongue seedlings. Pro Tip: Houndstongue is very vulnerable to 2,4-D just as it starts to bloom!
We usually “spot spray”, targeting an individual or clump of plants. This method allows us to do the most control with the least chemical and it also protects our pollinators. Of course, a sharp shovel is an excellent control method for annual and biennial species like Scotch and Houndstongue! But our department is responsible for many miles of roadside, and chemical is the most effective and efficient use of our resources.
There’s been a lot of ink spilled on line about the dangers of herbicides. Safety for people, livestock and pets is at the top of our list when we select an herbicide to use for noxious weeds in Adams County. Transporting, mixing and applying herbicides are carefully regulated and our applicators are licensed by the State of Idaho to ensure safety. Please contact our office if you have any questions.
As the roadsides green up, you’ll probably find us in the lower elevations of the county. We’ll be driving slowly, spot spraying as we go. We will try and watch for you, but we appreciate it when you can slow down a bit and pass us safely. Let’s get everyone home safe!
Wet weather or wind may keep us from spraying, but we might still be out in the field, mapping or scouting for new patches. Often we will spray an area in the spring for one species and then come back to catch another species that matures later. Good examples would be Whitetop, which will be out shortly, and Puncturevine, which generally shows up in July.
This is also Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) Spray Day season. We have several Spray Days, when we meet up with neighborhood residents and help them with weed identification, chemical selection and application, and safety. If you and your neighbors would be interested, please contact us.
We are putting the final touches on our schedule for the Adams County CWMA Weed Tour, to be held in Indian Valley on June 11. More details soon.
Thanks in advance for looking out for us and please, keep your shovel sharp!
