Most information about the MWCA can be found on the About page.
There you will find information about:
- Board of Directors
- Committees
- Workgroups
- By-laws
- Policies
- Tax Returns, also called 990
- Our History
Where Can I Find Out More Information about the MWCA?
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Recommend Books
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012There are lots of books, pamphlets and other resources out there here are some of our favorites.
- “Common Native & Invasive Wetland Plants in Montana”, July 2010 by MT DEQ Wetland Program, authors Carpenedo & Saul – FREE http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/wetlands/wetlandplantbooklet.mcpx
- For Western Montanans: “Non-native Invasive plants of the Pacific Coast Forests”, a field guide for identification, authors Gray, Barndt & Reichard – FREE To download the guide visit http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr817.pdf or order a hard copy by sending an e-mail to pnw_pnwpubs@fs.fed.us. Ask for PNW-GTR-817.
- While not a weed ID book, it is a great resource for natives and revegetation: “Roadside Revegetation, Utilizing Native Species in the Western United States. 2010 version and authors are Winston and Schwarzlander – FREE
- For Eastern Montanans: “Weeds of the Great Plains” produced by the Nebraska Dept of Ag – $25 (hardback)http://www.agr.state.ne.us/forms/nw11.pdf“Weeds of the West” 9th edition, 2006, Author Tom Whitson – $32 (with shipping)http://www.uwyo.edu/ces/wyoweed/_files/doc/weeds_of_west_order.pdf
- “Weeds of the Prairies” Government of Alberta, Ag & Rural Development – $25http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex39
Learn About Calibration for Using Herbicides
Thursday, August 19th, 2010One of the most important things that can be done when using herbicides is making sure you are spraying the right plant and you are using the right amount of herbicide. Learning how to use the right amount of herbicide is called calibration.
There are many ways a person can learn about calibration.
- Contact your local weed coordinator or extension agent.
- Attend a Private Applicator’s Class in your area.
- Use a combination of print and video materials available.
The following are some of the print materials available. We have provided links or you may contact your extension agent.
- Calibrating Ground Sprayers Using Shortcut Methods - a MSU Extension Publication
- Calibrating Pesticide Application Equipment – a MSU Extension Publication
- Calibrating Boom & Broadjet Sprayers – a MSU Extension Publication
- Calibrating Hand Sprayers – a MSU Extension Publication
- Herbicide Sprayer Calibration Guidelines – Published by Techline 2012
MWCA helped to underwrite this short video that demonstrates calibration of equipment. We have broken it down in to 6 steps.
Chapter 1 Importance of Calibration
Chapter 2 Equipment & Pre-Calibration Check
Chapter 3 Understanding Calibration
Chapter 4 Calibrating Backpack Sprayer and Handline
Chapter 5 Calibrating Using the Strip Method
Chapter 6 Adding Pesticide to Your Tank
MSU Extension also has a DVD available for purchase on their website. There is also information on the MSU Webpage on Calibration.
Are noxious weeds ranked or prioritized?
Monday, May 17th, 2010In 2010 the Montana Department of Agriculture revamped the noxious weed priority system. Noxious weeds are now rank one of 5 priorities.
Priority 1A - These weeds are not present in Montana. Management criteria will require eradication of detected; education and prevention.
Priority 1B – These weeds are have limited presence in Montana. Management criteria will require eradication or containment and education.
Priority 2A – These weeds are common in isolated areas of Montana. Management criteria will required eradication or containment where less abundant. Management shall be prioritized by local weed districts.
Priority 2B – These weeds are abundant in Montana and widespread in many counties. Management criteria will require eradication or containment where less abundant. Management shall be prioritized by local weed districts.
Priority 3 – Regulated Plants – NOT Montana Listed Noxious Weeds. These regulated plants have the potential to have significant negative impacts. These plants may not be intentionally spread or sold other than as a contaminant in agricultural products. the state recommends research, education and prevention to minimize the spread of the regulated plant.
Download a copy of the current priority list of Montana Noxious Weeds.
Does the Montana Weed Control Association have a specialty plate?
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009In 2005, the MWCA, through initiative by board member Kim Goodwin, contracted with Fossil Creative out of Kalispell to design a specialty plate and the Association was extremely fortunate to obtain such an appealing design. The MWCA specialty plate portrays a cowboy on a horse with cattle and mountains in the background, and it remains one of the top fifteen selling plates in Montana today. Special edition prints of this design are also available through Fossil Creative. If you are looking for a special plate, we encourage you to support our cause and not only help in the war on weeds, but purchase a unique and very “Montana” license plate.
How much chemical do I use for my sprayer?
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Because soil and environmental conditions vary greatly across Montana, and all sprayers distribute spray at different rates, generic recommendations cannot be made. Please contact your local county weed professionals to obtain the best recommendations for your specific plants and conditions.
What is sprayer calibration and why do I need to calibrate my sprayer?
Friday, October 23rd, 2009The objective of calibration is the same no matter what kind of sprayer you are using, to apply the correct amount of chemical to do the job. All pesticide labels tell you how much you should be applying. If you apply too much chemical you may impact other plants and resources that you do not want to. If you apply too little chemical you may not get the results you want.
MWCA has a web page with videos and reference materials to help demystify calibration.
What chemical do I use for my noxious weeds?
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Again, because of the variety of herbicide available, differing soil conditions, and because of a variety of environmental conditions, it is best that you contact your weed professional(s) to properly assess your weeds and identify the best options for your specific environment.
I don’t want to use chemicals, what are my options?
Friday, October 23rd, 2009There is no silver bullet in weed management, and integrated control measures are the best bet. There are many options available for noxious weed control, but not all options work for every invasive. Please refer to integrated weed management for more specific recommendations.
How do I identify which plants are actually noxious weeds on my property?
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Many publications are available for weed ID including Weeds of the Prairies, Weeds of the West, many publications through Montana State University, and several websites. However, if you don’t want to go that route, you can contact a local weed professional to walk through your property with you or you can take samples of the plants and have them identified at Montana State University.
- Guidelines for Submitting Plant Specimines for ID (PDF)
- Plant ID Contacts (PDF)
- Plant Identification Form (PDF)