Weed notes: It's hard to believe

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Published on Thursday, March 21, 2013

By: Sid Lewis

myWestman.ca

At the time of this writing (March 18) it is hard to believe that only a year ago the little lady and I were stringing up a three-strand fence and the sweat was very evident with +16°C temperatures!

Looking over past years’ journals, this year is more the average March weather conditions. It’s scary to think March 29 is Good Friday, Brandon Fair and as most tell me, with March coming in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.

In discussion with the regional Infrastructure and Transportation office in Brandon they, as well as other identities, are concerned with potential flood prospects now because of snow levels in this province and our neighbouring western province. Every spring the southwestern weed control supervisors meet with Infrastructure and Transportation to discuss mutual weed control concerns.

The benefits of this meeting are huge in that communication allows each to discuss and appreciate the others’ concerns. Words cannot fully explain how much we supervisors value this annual meeting.

As well as causing many other hardships, flooding brings a whole raft of new invasive weeds downstream to try to eradicate before they take a strong foothold. It was brought to our attention with the flood two years ago that the bags of sand used to dike areas contained many invasive species, so care had to be taken to watch where they were stored to avoid potential problems.

It has always been and always will be a fun poke to me when I hear, “Your job is easy to control weeds this time of year,” and rightfully so, but if all signs follow through at the moment, it sounds like this summer will make up for the easier times. Increasing numbers of weeds becoming resistant and poor weather systems are just two issues our weed management program will have to face this coming summer.

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