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News & Updates

Weed Identification App Available

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Would you like to have weed identification book with you at all times, but the logistics are impossible. Have you have lost your favorite weed ID book that used to be in your work truck? Does the idea of carrying a copy of Weeds of the West in your day back make you tired just thinking about it? We have an answer for you.

There is a new Android app for tablets & smart phones. It is the Expert Identification System by XID Services Inc. It has over 1,000 broadleaf plants and and interactive weed ID system. If you have your phone you have help.

Becky just saw a demo and once it is on your phone you don’t even need service to use it. There is a two day special going on right now and you can have it for $9.95 Here is the link.

This is not an endorsement of this product, but it looks like a winner and we want to share it with you. If you get it let us know what you think!

Posts related to: App, identification, Weed ID
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New Noxious Weed Managment Certification Program and First Workshop

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Noxious Weed Management Certification Workshop is a 3-day study of weed biology, ecology, and management. It is designed to benefit those new to weed management and experienced professionals. Topics covered will range from very basic plant and vegetation science and ecology to applying weed management tools to social aspects of weed management.

This workshop is the first in a series of training opportunities for local, state, federal government, and other land managers in Montana interested in current advances in noxious weed management. The series (Level 1 through Level 3) will include subsequent workshops over the course of two to five years, and course complexity will increase with subsequent levels. Participants are strongly encouraged to move through the levels sequentially.

In order to keep the workshop as dynamic and interactive as possible, enrollment is limited to 35 participants, who will secure a place in the workshop on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants who are not able to enroll will be placed on a waiting list and will be given first priority for enrollment in the next Level 1 workshop which will occur within one year.

The Level 1 workshop is April 3 – 5, 2012, at the Comfort Inn in Bozeman, MT. Cost is $150 and includes course materials, snacks, and lunch for each day. Visit the Events Calendar page for more information on registering and lodging. Download the announcement with agenda and the registration form.

The development of this program and the first workshop is supported with a grant from the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund.

Posts related to: training, Weed Management, Weed Management Certification
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Become Invovled – Serve on a Committee or Work Group

Friday, January 20th, 2012

As a member of MWCA we hope you will become involved in one of the many committees and work groups that we have. We depend on our members to help guide us and get things done. Some of the committees and work groups only meet once or twice a year and others have a busier schedule. Montana is a large state and travel can be an issue, but MWCA uses tools like email, conference calls, webinars and combining meetings with other functions to help lessen the impact.

The following are descriptions of the current committees and work groups. If you have questions or would like to serve on a committee please email Becky at becky.kington@mtweed.org

Standing Committees

MWCA Education Committee - Objective: To encourage educational events, training, publications, and other activities to further the knowledge and expertise of MWCA members and the public.

Coordinator Support Committee - Objective: To encourage professionalism, and provide operational and educational direction for Weed District Coordinators.

Integrated Weed Management Committee - Objective: To encourage the development, research, and demonstration of sustainable, integrated weed management strategies.

Nominations and Board Development Committee (Governance)- Objective: To actively solicit qualified, engaged and enthusiastic individuals to serve on the board as well as to provide quality professional training for board members as opportunities arise.

Work Groups

Public Policy Resolution Work Group – Objective: To help the MWCA create a system of resolutions and public policy and work on creating resolutions as the need arises.

Annual Conference Planning Work Group - Objective: To plan for and help prepare for the MWCA Annual Conference

Awards Ceremony Sub Work Group - Objective: To work on refining and implementing the nomination and voting process for MWCA awards.

Award Voting Work Group – Members of this group will vote on MWCA awards.

Scholarship Review Work Group – Objective: To establish scholarship criteria and to evaluate and help determine who receives MWCA Scholarships each year.

Private Landowner Involvement Work Group – Objective: To develop ideas to bring more landowners into the MWCA and weed management efforts.

Fundraising Work Group – Objective: To help find ways to create funds for the Association (sponsorships, raffles, monthly giving, etc.) and help implement fundraising plans.

What’s Your 5? Work Group – Objective: To help direct and help implement ideas for the What’s Your 5? educational campaign

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DRAFT Montana Department of Transportation Statewide Roadside Integrated Vegetation Management Plan

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Attached is a link to the revised DRAFT Montana Department of Transportation Statewide Roadside Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (2012-2018). We incorporated the comments from county weed districts, other stakeholders, and updated and revised information. We also changed the plan format to make it easier to read. The county noxious weed list in Appendix B is incomplete since we are still receiving responses from county weed districts. Please forward any comments to me no later than January 16, 2012.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/maintenance/external/DRAFT-MDT2012IVMPLAN.PDF

Thanks

Mike Miller
Roadside and Winter Maintenance Specialist
406-444-6991
(406-444-7684 fax)
mikmiller@mt.gov

Updated Directory Available

Monday, November 14th, 2011

The MWCA Directory has been updated. There many changes including new weed coordinators, staff at the Department of Agriculture and more. Download and print your copy today. It is in Adobe format that you can take to your local copy or office supply store and have them print and bind it. If you would like to order a print copy from MWCA contact Becky.

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Eurasian Water Milfoil Now in Flathead County

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) was confirmed in Beaver Lake, in Flathead County, on October 19^th. The lake was closed for public use on October 24^th. Erik Hanson, a biologist and consultant with the Flathead Basin aquatic invasive species work group, estimates the 12-foot-by-12-foot patch of the weed, has been growing undetected for about three years.

Barriers have been placed in the lake. The barriers, purchased last week by Flathead County, consist of a heavy, black liner material attached to PVC pipes that are filled with sand to stay on the lake bottom. The barriers will stay in place until next spring when divers will return to the water to remove the weed.

If left untreated, milfoil forms dense mats of vegetation on the surface of the water that may interfere with recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. The resulting effect can be a decrease in lakefront property values. EWM reproduces successfully and very rapidly, making it a threat to any water body it invades.

Pieces of plants are easily transported between water bodies by boats and fishing gear. Anyone who has fished or boated in Beaver Lake must clean their boats, equipment and waders prior to entering another water body. Please contact Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) in Kalispell at 444-2449 if non-decontaminated equipment was taken from Beaver Lake to any other lake so those locations can be monitored. FWP has a decontamination station and a brochure listing approved car washes.

Visit our EWM weed ID page or library for more information.

Permits Required for the Following Aquatic Plant Management Activities: Diver Dredge, Hand Removal, and Bottom Barriers

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

If you are planning aquatic plant management activities that involved dredging, pulling or bottom barriers you many need to obtain a permit prior to beginning your efforts.

The type of activity and body of water are two of the factors that determine the type of permit(s) you many need to obtain. We have a short summary of the different permits, who is the issuing agency, and which ones are required for which activity. Download this summary before you begin your work.

County Weed Act – Revised October 2011

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Montana has a law on the books to manage noxious weeds. An excerpt from the law: “It is unlawful for any person to permit any noxious weed to propagate or go to seed on the person’s land, except that any person who adheres to the noxious weed management program of the person’s weed management district or who has entered into and is in compliance with a noxious weed management agreement is considered to be in compliance with this section.”

Download a copy of the “County Weed Control Act” – Title 7, Chapter 22, Part 21 Revised October 2011

For additional information regarding the enforcement, how weeds are priorities and more visit our online library in the FAQ section.

ID Source Released

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

CPHST’s Identification Technology Program (ITP) is pleased to announce the initial release of ID Source, developed through collaboration between CPHST and Colorado State University. ID Source is now available for you to quickly find trustworthy, identification-themed websites for screening, detection, and identification of plant pests, diseases, and weeds.

We are constantly critically evaluating thousands of web sites to determine their value for individuals who, like you, are associated with plant protection. Only those sites that we determine support ID Source’s purpose and its users are added and become “ID Aids.” Each ID Aid is thoroughly reviewed and “described” using category names that are likely familiar terms you may find easy to use when searching for ID Aids. All ID Aids are also web-crawled for scientific names and common names that you might use when searching on the Internet for support. You will find that searching for ID Aids with ID Source is easy and that your results are more focused and valuable than standard Internet search engines can provide.

ID Source Features:

As of August 2011, we have selected and vetted over 1,400 identification-themed web sites for ID Source (ID Source’s “ID Aids”)
Offers you familiar and relevant search choices for filtering of ID Aids to results meeting your needs
“ID Aid Site Search,” ID Source’s new web-crawled Text Search component, allows you to locate specific scientific or common names on actual web pages within ID Aids
We mine the Web for both domestic and international ID Aids to help address the issue of pest introductions via global trade
We offer you the opportunity to be a part of ID Source’s user community and to have a stake in ID Source’s future:
Provide your ratings and reviews of ID Aids to assist future users when they attempt to find the “best” or most valuable ID Aids
Suggest web sites you think would be valuable ID Aids to keep the ID Aid collection growing and current
Give us feedback about ID Source – it is simple to do and will help us improve and increase the value of ID Source for you and your colleagues
Thumbnail screenshots have been captured and detailed information about ID Aids gathered for easy evaluation while searching for the right ID Aid
We have just completed mining the Web for valuable ID Aids that offer coverage of species included in the AHP 2012 list

ID Source can be accessed at: http://idsource.colostate.edu

Posts related to: ID Source, identification
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What’s in Your World materials now available at the MSU Extension Store

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Liz Galli-Noble, Director of the Center for Invasive Plant Management, has just announced that the “What’s In Your World” kits, materials and more are now available at the MSU Extension Store. Prices of many items have been reduced and now is the time to purchase these great educational materials.

Montana Weed Control Association

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