by Susan Simons
HUERFANO- Michael Rigirozzi, a Weed Specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke to Huerfano and Las Animas County landowners Tuesday night about help for landowners in controlling five noxious weeds. They are Leafy spurge, Dalmatian toadflax, Spotted knapweed, Russian knapweed, and Diffuse knapweed.
Due to a grant written by CSU Extension and the Huerfano County Weed Board, landowners can receive a 50-50 cost share reimbursement for herbicides and equipment they purchase to control these weeds. There is a good chance that there will also be money from the Habitat Protection Program of the Colorado Division of Wildlife for cost-share reimbursements for control of other invasive weeds such as Scotch and Canada thistle.
This project is using the “wildfire” strategy: treat smaller infestations while they can still be controlled and treat larger ones from the perimeter in. The five targeted weeds have not yet taken over in the two counties, but they have a foothold. It is wise and cost-effective to control them now.
Landowners can get assistance with all steps in the process, including weed identification, mapping, and choosing control treatments, from the CSU Extension office in Huerfano County and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Las Animas County: Amy Hart at 719-738-2170 and Mark Shull at 719-846-3681. The cost-share reimbursements are available for the following time period: March 2008-April 2009.
Now is a good time to identify and deal with noxious weeds.
