Weed notes - Jan. 23
- Details
- Published on Thursday, January 22, 2015
By Syd Lewis
Supervisor
The last few years local producers near Riding Mountain National Park have told me of the increasing infestations of common burdock on their land and in the park. I appreciated what concerns they have, seeing in this district the areas increasing as well, but until last Sunday, Jan. 17, I didn’t realize how badly burdock was growing in the park.
Terry and I had the chance to ride on a horse-drawn sleigh starting at the edge of the park just a little east of Rossman Lake. We were only a few minutes into the park and I saw the growth of burdock, from small patches to significant populations, which continued to the area known as The Sugar Loaves, approximately five miles in distance. If this isn’t controlled soon, lots of natural vegetation will be lost due to the infestations.
Readers will see the notice in the Jan. 9 edition of Rivers Banner stating our intentions for the 2015 weed/insect management program. I listed the products Fiesta and Scott Weed Be Gon that Manitoba Conservation has listed we can use in towns for weed control, with dandelions being the main weed. Wanting to find out what the costs are for these products, the manufacturer of Fiesta listed their largest container, 40 ounces, at $11.99 which would treat 6,400 square feet. To treat a large area at their recommended rate, 10 acres would cost $816. Herbicides we formerly found the best for control cost $310. Whether my old school math or modern, this shows how much more it will cost towns for weed control. Scott’s would not quote a price and passed the buck to the local retail outlets to tell customers their best price off the shelf. I just cannot justify going into our local hardware and taking however many one-litre bottles I would need just in order to do our program.
Back to the trip into the park, at one spot the sleigh upset and dumped all the riders in the snow. I landed on my back with my head slanted down the slope. Terry helped the driver upright his sleigh and left it to two other riders to pull me up. When I chastised her for not coming to my aid, her reply was, “Seeing you on your back and in an awkward position, I knew you wouldn’t be going anywhere!”
If you have any questions for Midwest Weed District please phone 204-764-2128.
