Right in their own backyard

Noxious weed conference is educational opportunity

COLUMBIA BASIN - Toadflax. Puncturevine. Knapweed.

These and other noxious weeds crossed the display screen Wednesday morning at the Noxious Weed Control Board of Grant County's 10th annual conference.

The itinerary included management of weeds along Grant County's 2,500 miles of road; determining calibrations on handguns, backpacks and ATVs for herbicide applications; and biology and control of yellow flag iris.

An informational presentation about methamphetamine was canceled. Detective Sgt. Dan Couture of the Grant County Sheriff's Office said he was unable to make his presentation due to his caseload.

Couture hoped to deliver a basic understanding of the drug, its circulation and the social and economic impact methamphetamine can have in a community, from property crime to violent crime.

"It's unfortunate I couldn't make it due to our current caseload," he said.

Board consultant Jeff Janke said he was pleased with the turnout, with attendance numbers up from the previous year.

"We have a lot of great speakers and a lot of good information that pertains to this area," Janke said. "A lot of times, you go to conferences and they'll have speakers talking about a problem back east. People are here to find out about problems in their backyards."

The public tends to view the board as weed cops, Janke said.

"Of course, nobody likes to be pulled over and written a ticket," he said. "We're here to educate the public and try to get control of noxious weeds devastating to natural habitat in the area."

Ephrata resident Sherman Clayton was in attendance to get his Washington State Department of Agriculture re-certification credits. The event is an information day, he said.

"Usually, they have people from the state that give us new guidelines and new things we're looking at," he said. "Other than the credits, when you get something local, then it'll help. Myself, I farm and things like that, we can keep abreast of what they're doing with noxious weeds, what you can count on being patrolled and what our responsibilities are."

Wilbur resident Bob Ramm said he would probably use much of the information on herbicides when he sprays weeds.

"You always pick up something," he said. "It's a good way for us to keep up on what we're supposed to be doing. Especially when you spray professionally and all - we have to know what we're doing and this is the way we learn how to do it, keep it up."

Othello farmer Earl Horning said he was in attendance to learn about weed-spraying. The conference is a good place to get information, he said, adding he's encouraged by the number of parasites used to combat weeds.

"One of the things I'm always looking for is more effective chemicals on these very, very tough weeds people tell you can't control," he said. "I'm determined I'm going to control them."