News from Stevens County Weed Board

Stevens County Weed ID Booklet Available for Purchase-FOR A LIMITED TIME; ALMOST GONE...Feb 2013

Eastern WA Version of "Garden Wise" Booklet available to download

Chemical Recommendations- Revised 2011 Version

2013 Weed List Adopted at Annual Meeting Feb 21

Weed & Biocontrol Booklet for Stevens County

Second Edition is HAS ALMOST SOLD OUT!
2/28/2013: WE HAVE ABOUT ONE DOZEN BOOKS LEFT FOR PURCHASE FOR $7.50 EACH. A GREAT DEAL WHEN YOU COMPARE WITH OTHER WEED ID BOOKS ON THE MARKET!

48 more color pages of weed identification and information have been added to the original version of our popular book. It includes all of the weed sheets and biocontrol sheets found on this website plus information on weed laws, county policies, useful websites and useful reference books. The booklet is 168 color pages of valuable information ready for your use "in the field" to help you identify weeds in your favorite recreation areas and on your property. The booklet is coil bound and measures 5 ½" x 8 ½" , perfect for throwing in the glove box of your vehicle or stuffing into a large pocket.

The cost of printing and binding the booklets is the only cost we will have to pass on to you. You can purchase the book for only $7.50, including tax. Stop by the office with cash or check or send us a check via mail and we will mail the book to you. (Feb 2013)

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Garden Wise
There is a great new booklet available to help gardeners and nursery staff make sound planting decisions. Many of our noxious weeds began as garden ornamentals that out-grew their confines and spread beyond where they were intentionally planted. This book lists many of the noxious or known invasive ornamental plants and alternative garden choices that have similar stature and color characteristics, without the negative invasive qualities. There are two versions of the booklet-one for Eastern WA and one for Western WA. We have a few copies of the Eastern WA version available in our office for handout but you can download either version, along with several other educational items, by visiting the Washington State Weed Board website, education page.

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Weed List Adopted at Feb 21, 2013 Annual Meeting

Another amazing turn-out from local landowners and managers at our annual meeting of the Stevens County Weed Board and Conservation District! We had a steady 75 attendees during the day-long event, most of whom, admittedly, were there solely to qualify for the 6 WA State pesticide license credits available.

Credit presentations were made by representatives of WSU Extension, WA Department of Agriculture and Stevens Co Weed Board. The talks covered Biocontrol opportunities in the county, the “Full Circle” approach to weed control, making sense of the new herbicide label requirements regarding drift control, weed identification & control and the county weed list hearing.

The annual weed list hearing was held in the afternoon. A presentation was made explaining the changes to the State Weed List this year and the proposed changes to the county list. We went over the changes to the State weed list that will affect the county, if that weed is found growing here, as follows:

French broom was added to the state weed list as a Class A;
tall hawkweed added as a Class B;
common barberry and common teasel added as Class C noxious weeds.
Three weeds were lowered in Class; Russian knapweed lowered from a B-designate to a Class B, control no longer required;
perennial sowthistle lowered from a B-designate to a C, control no longer required;
longspine sandbur from a B select to a Class C, but will still be a select in our county and control required.
The designation of rush skeletonweed was modified and the state now lists it as required control north of township 28; and yellow starthistle is designated in the same general area but the description was simplified so it is easier and shorter to read.

There were no comments from the audience about the changes and the Weed Board of Directors voted to adopt the 2013 weed list with the changes as presented during the hearing. More information on all the changes at the State level can be found on their website http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/ and the 2013 Stevens County Weed List can be viewed on this site at this link.