Weed notes -Mar. 12

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By Sid Lewis

Supervisor

Along with nine weed supervisors and other interested parties, I attended a workshop on March 5 at Assiniboine Community College (ACC). It was put on by Manitoba Conservation and dealt with the Cosmetic Spray Ban. I had previously asked a number of questions about who was the person responsible for implementing this ban and every time the answer was, “I do not know... will have to ask our policy people before I commit myself and the department.” My thought was if the government passes legislation on an Act, why wouldn’t they have the answers as well?

The first presenter was from the policy department and my first impression of her was “this woman is harsher than a female grizzly chasing me while I have her cubs in my arms!” During her presentation I asked a question or two and her facial expression to me had many four letter descriptive phrases showing.

I had previously been told by emails and phone calls from Conservation that farmyards were exempt, for the time being, from the ban. I asked if this was true today. Apparently any lawn — whether town, city or farm — is banned from having herbicides used for weed control. My thought was if this person went into any farmyard in this district with that thought process, her attitude may change somewhat!

In the Act there are a few exemption clauses. “If a weed supervisor or inspector deems there is an invasive weed present in a lawn, boulevard, he/she may at their discretion, use a herbicide or permit to be used by a licensed applicator under his/her supervision.” I see this as a valuable tool to use but before I would go to this level, I would want full support from my board. This is certainly something Midwest Weed District should consider in the future.

The presenter mentioned that for 2015 the heavy-handed fines won’t be administered in some cases, rather they are looking at this year being an educational format, thus being a somewhat transitional year.

Perry Roque, director of community services for City of Brandon, gave a presentation on their alternative lawn care practices. I asked what their program consisted of with the amounts of leafy spurge, burdock and other invasive weeds showing throughout the city. Other than lawns with long grass, they acted solely on complaints by ratepayers and last year, the inspector had not implemented any type of control on those two weeds, which in my mind, was very apparent! Another supervisor pointed out to him that with the status of leafy spurge in the Noxious Weed Act, the inspector was incompetent! Perry had no answer.

A speaker from the City of Toronto gave a review of their alternative control practices, and basically the products listed for control of dandelions that Conservation listed (i.e. Fiesta) proved non-satisfactory and way too expensive. So they basically, for a month in the spring and a month in the fall, other than mowing, look the other way. When the infestation becomes too prevalent, they will tear up the grass and re-sod. He wasn’t aware of the full cost of re-sodding, it had just become part of their plan. 

I have been asked a number of times what I will miss about this job after retiring in April and every time my answer is, “Everything except the politics!” In 1972 I took a machinist course at ACC and this year I was surprised the men’s bathroom is in the same place. But now, instead of sinks, there is a big circular basin and underneath it, a bar to put your foot on to turn the water on in sprinkler fashion. Checking under a corner (which is hard to do when it’s circular!) I was able to find my initials which were etched there in 1972!

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