Author: Kris Gade

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AZ Dept of Ag Rule – Posted for Comment with Public Meeting on May 15, 2019

The rules changes proposed by the Department of Agriculture were published on the Arizona Administrative Register of the Secretary of State website on 5 April. The draft is now open for public review and comment until 5 June.

A public meeting will be held on 15 May at 10am at:

Arizona Department of Ag, Conference Room 206, 1688 Adams St., Phoenix Continue reading “AZ Dept of Ag Rule – Posted for Comment with Public Meeting on May 15, 2019”

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Update on AZ Dept of Agriculture Weed Rule – October 2018

SWVMA would like to share with our members the current version of the AZ Dept of Agriculture weed rule as sent to the Plant Services Director in October 2018 (available HERE) and the ranking of different species completed by the SWVMA Weed Rule Revision Committee (available HERE).
     SWVMA has been involved in the weed rule revision process since it first opened up a couple of years ago.  We recommended 11 new species be added, which was done in this draft.  We also recommended deletion of 12 species from the list — logic for that is found in the attached document, “Categorization of Arizona’s Invasive Plants by SWVMA”.  We also recommended refinement of the listing for Ipomoea species so that native and sometimes rare native species are not included in the invasive plant list for the state. 
     We requested a change in wording of the abatement clause,  “The department may quarantine and abate an area infested or contaminated with a Class A or Class B Noxious Weed if it has been determined by the Associate Director that an imminent threat to agriculture or horticulture exists.”  to read as follows:
     “The department may quarantine and abate an area infested or contaminated with a Class A, Class B or Class C Noxious Weed if it has been determined by the Associate Director that an imminent threat to agriculture or horticulture or human welfare or safety exists.”
     Our reason for this change is to give the state authority to abate fountain grass and buffelgrass, both of which are C species, and both of which create an extreme fire hazard if growing densely in close proximity and especially immediately downslope of dwellings or places of business.
     This suggested change was not added, as we were told, because safety is not a mandated function of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.  We do not agree, as safety is and should be a part of every state department.  In fact, Arizona State Forestry’s FireWise program is primarily implemented for the safety of communities living in close proximity to forested areas. 
     We also requested that wording be included for a process to add flexibility to be able to amend the state’s weed list more easily.  This last revision has been requested by SWVMA for 12 years.  Protocols should be added to prevent state bureaucracy from stymying updates needed for new species entering the state to be handled by early detection/rapid response. 
     Our SWVMA committee will be providing updates to the SWVMA website so that interested people can follow progress of the weed rule revision process.  At this time, the revised rule has been given to the Director of the Department of Agriculture.  From there it will go to the Governor’s Advisory Council.  After they have reviewed it, it will go out for public review and comment.  It will be key at that time, to have letters from the noxious weed management community, especially in support of new species additions.
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Registration is open for the 2018 Annual Meeting and Applicator Class

2018 Annual Meeting: Progressive Land Management in the Southwest

Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Avenue, Tucson

October 16-18, 2018

Click here for the Registration Flyer

Click here for the Certification Class Information

Click here for Sponsor Information

Program Overview

  Tuesday, October 16 Wednesday, October 17 Thursday, October 18
8 am Continental breakfast Continental breakfast Meet for field trip
8:30-noon Keynote speaker and presentations Presentations Field trip
Noon Lunch Lunch/Business Meeting
1-5 pm Presentations Presentations
5-7 pm Reception at Hotel

 

Registration Rates

Early Registration (through October 1) $175
Regular Registration (after October 1) $225
One Day Registration $100
Student Registration $60
Student One Day Registration $40

 

If there is sufficient interest, SWVMA and partners will be hosting a Pesticide Applicator Training and AZ Department of Agriculture will administer the Pesticide Applicator License EXAM on Monday, October 15, 2018 from 7:30AM – 4PM at Tucson City Center Hotel.  The class fee of $40 per person includes lunch.   Class registration is separate from the meeting registration. Please register by October 10, 2018.

Meeting Registration: https://swvma.eventsmart.com/events/21st-swvma-annual-meeting/

Class Registration: https://swvma.eventsmart.com/events/pesticide-applicator-class/

Additional information: www.swvma.org or email us at info@swvma.org

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SWVMA Awards Invasive Plant Grant to Watershed Management Group

SWVMA Awards Invasive Plant Grant to Watershed Management Group

SWVMA is pleased to announce that Watershed Management Group has been awarded an Invasive Plant Grant. They will collaborate with Pima County Regional Flood Control District and Holistic Engineering and Land Management to develop an invasive species management plan to reduce buffelgrass and Lehmanns lovegrass by using animal impact through management to address flooding, drainage issues and reduce fire risks. They will also develop a pilot project using animal impact through holistic animal grazing. We look forward to a report on the results of the effort at a future SWVMA Annual Meeting.

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Annual Meeting Volunteers/Scholarships – Applications Due October 19

Take some time to learn, share and network at the SWVMA Annual Meeting coming up on Oct 24-26! Scholarships are available in exchange for volunteering. If you are interested in a scholarship to the event to support your attendance, fill out and return the application form.

ScholarshipApplication2017

 Don’t forget, you can register directly by going to the link at SWVMA.org or by clicking here.
See you next week!
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Nominations for Open Board Positions

SWVMA will be electing a new Vice President, Secretary and 3 board members at large at this year’s annual meeting. Please review the descriptions of the positions in the flyer linked below.  If you are interested in running for one of the positions, send an email nomination indicating which position(s) you’re running for and include a short biographical sketch (bio) to info@swvma.org by Monday, October 16.

Position Descriptions