Craig June 26, 2021

MD of Willow Creek (Rural Roots Canada) – Noxious weeds are a pain at the best of times, however, getting ahead of them by dealing with them early is always the best strategy to ensure the problem doesn’t grow.

The Agricultural Service Board for the MD of Willow Creek is once again reminding rural landowners to keep their eyes peeled for a number of weeds that spring up at this time of year.

Those include:

  • Common Burdock
  • Leafy Spurge
  • Toadflax
  • Knapweed
  • Baby’s-breath
  • Nodding Thistle

Agricultural Fieldman Carla Preachuk says they do seem to have a variety of invasive species within the MD that keeps them on their toes.

“A lot of it can be attributed to the different corridors, the highways in and rivers and borders,” Preachuk said.

 

Early Detection, Rapid Response!

Keeping noxious weeds from becoming a massive problem involves making sure they are dealt with early.  If you see one of these weeds in the ditches or near roadways let the MD know immediately.  They can be reached at 403 – 625 – 3351 ext. 229.

RELATED: MD of Willow Creek Ep. 1: Noxious Weeds, Farm Equipment for Rent and ASB celebrates 65 years

Preachuk says they have a simple slogan when it comes to dealing with weeds: early detection, rapid response.

“It helps keep weed infestations smaller and more able to control them in a timely and effective manner the sooner we know about them.”

Do your homework, keep a sharp eye out

Preachuk says it’s important to keep a sharp eye out throughout the growing season for these plants.

But first, it’s a good idea to know the plants so you can ID them when you cross paths with them.

“So once there’s that recognition of what they’re dealing with, a lot of people are more than willing to take care of that.”

She says it’s identifying and dealing with the problem early that is key to staying on top of it.

Once the weeds are identified on a property, there’s a number of way they can be dealt with.

“There’s hand pulling, there’s digging, there’s grazing and in some cases help reduce the amount of invasive species on a place, there’s herbicide control and there are many different ways of mowing.”

One unique way the MD deals with invasive weeds is by releasing beneficial bugs in the area and let them go after the specific plants.

Beneficial insects are bugs that perform valued services in your crops like attacking plants, other insects, and pollination.

Preachuk says Willow Creek has been using this practice for many years now.

One of the best examples of this was the bugs they used on the houndstongue plant with which they have seen some amazing results.

“If you’ve gotten into areas with a lot of houndstongue and then I definitely recommend getting some of those bugs.”

Preachuk says MD can do a bug release on your land if needed, simply contact her at the MD office.

The MD of Willow Creek features an invasive weed on its Instagram account every Wednesday.

 

author

Craig