We’ve added a new page on Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) under the Invasive Plants category. Click HERE to view it and download a brochure.
Fountain Grass
Western Society of Weed Science (WSWS), March 1-4, 2021
WSWS will host a joint meeting with the Western Aquatic Plant Management Society. Three symposia are planned for the joint event:
- Updates from weed biocontrol: an unsung component of integrated weed management on land and in water
- Annual invasive grass management
- Are herbicide-resistant crops the solution to herbicide-resistant weeds?
Weed Science Society of America, February 15-19, 2021
WSSA’s annual meeting will include an annual awards presentation, oral and poster presentations, a business meeting, and special networking sessions for both graduate students and women in weed science. Five special symposia will be offered, including:
- Advances in sensor-based weed detection and precision management
- A history, overview and plan of action on PPO-inhibiting herbicides
- Beyond the boom – benefits of weed and brush management in grasslands
- Optimizing invasive aquatic plant management, monitoring and outreach efforts to meet regional needs
- Sustainable weed management – what is it and how are we doing?
Prerecorded presentations will be followed by live question and answer sessions. Further details and conference registration are available online.
SWVMA 2020 Vegetation Manager of the Year
Congratulations to Dr. John Brock, the SWVMA 2020 Vegetation Manager of the Year! Dr. Brock has made many contributions to vegetation management in Arizona, including serving as president of SWVMA for many years. Thank you for all your contributions!
SWVMA Conference 2020 – November 17
Invasive Plant Species in Response to Urban and Wildland Fire
Register by midnight on 11/13 to attend the 2020 SWVMA conference on Invasive Plant Species in Response to Urban and Wildland Fire. It will be a virtual conference from 9 am – 4 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. More information can be found here.
Stinknet (Globe Chamomile) a relatively recent and problematic arrival to Arizona
Stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum) is a relatively recent and problematic arrival to Arizona. This plant is spreading rapidly in both urban and wild areas and can quickly dominate a landscape. More information HERE.
Update to AZ State Weed List
Dear Colleagues:
Good News. We now have final word that the revised Arizona Noxious Weed list will officially become law on January 4, 2020.
The updated noxious weed list contained in the rule changes proposed by the Department of Agriculture was unanimously endorsed by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council in October 2019. The new rules are expected to be published on the Arizona Administrative Register of the Secretary of State website by Friday November 22, 2019.
The rule changes will go into law on 4 January 2020 and will then appear in the Arizona Administrative Code with the first quarterly Code Supplement of 2020. The new Plant Division Code will also appear on the Department of Agriculture website in January 2020.
Following the public meetings and comment period in June, only one change was made to the Noxious Weed List proposed by SWVMA, the addition of Carrichtera annua to the Class A Weed Group.
This has been a very long process starting in 2007. But finally we got it done. Hopefully it will not take another 12 years before we manage to update the list again !
— The SWVMA Noxious Weed Working Group
Patti Fenner, John Brock, John Scheuring and John Richardson
Program, CEU and Field Trip Details for the SWVMA 2019 Annual Meeting
The program for the SWVMA 2019 meeting is available at the link below. There will be 8 CEUs from the Arizona Department of Agriculture for the 2 days of meetings and an additional 4 CEUs for attending either of the two field trips. See the program for the breakout of CEUs on days 1 and 2.
There are 2 field trips to choose from on Thursday, 10/24:
- Tovar Trail Invasive Plant Removal, led by JD Brice (Coconino County Public Works) and Cathy Scudieri (Natural Channel Design, Inc.). This field trip will focus on a project that was supported by an Invasive Plant Grant from SWVMA and is part of the recently revamped CCPW weed management program. The goal was to control diffuse knapweed and Scotch thistle populations that were encroaching on the Pumphouse County Natural Area. The field trip will visit the project area and discuss best practices and lessons learned for treatment of invasive plants.
- Riparian Habitat Restoration and Climate Adaptation along the Little Colorado River of Northern Arizona, led by Catherine Gehring (Professor, Northern Arizona University) and Ian Torrence (American Conservation Experience). This field trip will visit a 100-acre demonstration restoration project along the Little Colorado River on Babbitt Ranches land adjacent to the Navajo Nation. This area was degraded by wide-spread invasion of tamarisk and camelthorn. Tamarisk has been removed and native cottonwood and coyote willow have been planted. The project is also testing the use of native grasses to reduce the presence of camelthorn. In addition to a tour of the site, field trip participants will have an opportunity to plant cottonwood trees using mycorrhizal fungi.
Registration is open for the SWVMA Annual Meeting – October 22-24, 2019 in Flagstaff
[fusion_text]The SWVMA 2019 Annual Meeting will be held October 22-24 at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff.
Click on the links below for more information:
Pesticide applicator training will not be held this year.
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Western Governors Association releases Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Special Report
The Western Governors Association had an in-depth conversation with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, released the Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Special Report, and announced an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pursue collaborative projects on the first day of the WGA 2019 Annual Meeting.
The Governors opened the day by announcing an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pursue collaborative projects in wildfire response, vegetation management and invasive cheatgrass. “This is a significant next step in our shared stewardship collaboration with USDA,” said WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury. The press conference was also attended by Jim Hubbard, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. (Read the blog)