Weed notes: Radio show topic

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Published on Thursday, May 8, 2014

By: Sid Lewis

myWestman.ca

While listening to a radio program last week the topic was, “Should the government pass legislation which allows accessing human organs for transplant without previous written consent from the person who has just died?”

A few listeners commented not only is the present government legislating us to death while we are living, why not after we are dead as well!

That said, as most are now aware, this month the government has legislation passing to have s Cosmetic Spray Ban in effect in 2015. Along with the forced amalgamation coming in 2015, the opposing political parties probably just have to sit back and watch the present government slam dunk itself for the upcoming election!

I have had a number of questions since the announcement, one being “What is the difference between a herbicide and a pesticide?” Pesticide is all products lumped together: herbicide, insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide being the main groups.

Reading through the ban legislation, I can see a lot of interpretation in how to read it and many different assumptions can be made. The main point is that the ban will be in place anywhere a child can play: lawns, ball parks, recreation areas. (A colleague of mine thought you could spray anything on your garden for pest control, but not the adjacent lawn.)

Agricultural areas are exempt for now, but reading the fine print, a lawn area around a house is an area where the ban would be in place. Trying to police this one could be interesting!

There is a list of alternate products which can be used, but a few have a high content of iron, and once in the soil, iron will not degrade. Most herbicides used in lawns now are non- existent either an hour after application or, worst case scenario, in a few days.

It looks to me as though we are finally out of the grips of winter so within the next week or so, we will see those yellow heads showing up. With the spray ban, this is the final time to use products that work.

Above all, remember what I have said so many times: Spring spraying of dandelions only controls what you see above the ground. Fall is the best method for full control. At least now it keeps the plants from going to seed, but that is all.

Duncan Murray is geared up again this year for spraying dandelions in Hamiota and any country areas. The alternate products we are to use next year are way more expensive than current products and consequently, we will then have to charge more. Any Hamiota residents who wish their lawns covered are to contact Duncan or leave their names at the town office. Other towns in the weed district can either contact me or leave their names in their respective RM/Town offices to be on the list.

Perhaps it is a little early to be mentioning this, but a fair board director asked me recently for a list of noxious weeds so they and the judges rating entries at their fair day will know if some flower arrangements contain noxious weeds. I was very pleased the director was being so proactive; I encourage other fair board directors in other areas to consider this for the upcoming season.

A few weeks ago in this column I mentioned some hints I offered to a young chap to handle certain problems he experienced with his missus. I myself was in very deep doodoo with Terry later as she read it. I said we had been married 45+ years but in truth we are married for 40+ years instead! Although this is now three-plus weeks ago, I am still feeling the after effects from that statement.

This time I am asking help from readers: how to make amends? She’s still upset. Terry and I were at the Home and Leisure show in Brandon in early April. Our youngest and his girlfriend accompanied us and we toured the mobile homes outside the curling rink entrance.

One unit was geared towards a single person; as we left the home Terry said, “Son, I am telling you I am never going into a retirement home, just buy me one of these and set it up in the country somewhere!” As Terry hadn’t mentioned me anywhere in the equation I asked, “Dear what about me?” Her answer was swift and clear, “You will be in the retirement home!”

If you have any questions for Midwest Weed District please phone 204-764-2128.