Weed notes: Seminar in Russell
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014
By: Sid Lewis
myWestman.ca
The week of April 8-11 I attended a spring training seminar in Russell. New technology certainly is moving much faster than I can!
The second-last speaker Friday showed all the super gadgets smart phones now offer for weed management programs; I think it isn’t stopping now and rather, will keep advancing. He also showed a number of new sprayer nozzles on the market and capabilities they have to avoid drift and apply the product more exactly, saving many dollars. One I am interested in is sanctioned by the federal government and will possibly be registered by the province soon.
All commercial applicators are aware of buffer zones imposed by some people and this district isn’t left alone in this area. When we will be able to use these new nozzles, the standard width of a roadside ditch will be reduced to one metre in size.
This will be a plus for this district, especially in invasive weed-infested areas such as where leafy spurge is situated. Agricultural producers are faced somewhat by buffer zones around water areas with regard to a number of products now, and these nozzles will answer their frustration as well.
A couple of companies from whom we purchase most of our herbicides for our weed/brush management programs put us through heavy-duty workshops, so we are trained to apply their products efficiently and professionally. Although comparing apples to oranges perhaps, I feel we are somewhat the same as the PMU operators years ago, having to answer to industry dictations and the owners’ proactive approach to caring for their animals before they were told to change. We try to answer the problem before it happens.
Of course, two areas that are frustrating all municipalities at present as well as weed control districts are amalgamation and bans. We had presentations and meetings on the future forced amalgamation and cosmetic spray ban. My personal opinion is perhaps the present government will find themselves in the same situation as the Separatist party in the recent Quebec election. One can only hope!
If you have any questions for Midwest Weed District, please phone 204-764-2128.
