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<b>Filley</b>
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Weed Day is an educational program dedicated to the control of noxious weeds and is held the first Wednesday of every February at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
The Oregon State University Extension Service coordinates the program, provides much of the instruction and receives crucial assistance conducting and funding the program from many cooperators. We also take guidance from the Douglas County Weed Advisory Board, a group appointed by the county commissioners.
Weed Day offers classroom-style instruction, plus informational tables for cooperator displays and experts to answer questions.
This is the ninth consecutive year for Weed Day, a program that screamed for existence starting at the interview for my current position. I was told that the number one problem facing agriculture here was WEEDS! And, since I work with pasture improvement, fighting weeds was definitely an appropriate focus.
The Oregon State University Extension Service coordinates the program, provides much of the instruction and receives crucial assistance conducting and funding the program from many cooperators. We also take guidance from the Douglas County Weed Advisory Board, a group appointed by the county commissioners.
Weed Day offers classroom-style instruction, plus informational tables for cooperator displays and experts to answer questions.
This is the ninth consecutive year for Weed Day, a program that screamed for existence starting at the interview for my current position. I was told that the number one problem facing agriculture here was WEEDS! And, since I work with pasture improvement, fighting weeds was definitely an appropriate focus.
Weeds are a significant problem on many other land-types, including forests, right of ways, parks, roads and homes. And, since weeds are a community-wide problem, we all work together against them. Together, government agencies, environmental groups, OSU Extension personnel, businesses, and agricultural groups, all donate time, talent and money to Weed Day.
With an annual attendance of approximately 100, we have a great group that provides much interaction and sharing of experiences and wisdom. All attend for learning, but some also attend for pesticide re-certification credits to help retain licenses issued by Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Division.
The focus is on much more than just pesticides in the knowledge that weed control is most effective if practiced with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). These IPM methods include proper management of crops, forests, livestock, homes, gardens, yards, parks, roads, right-of-ways and other lands; alternative weed control methods, such as cultural and biological control; and cooperative weed control projects.
Program evaluations show a 26.8 percent increase in knowledge, which translates to an estimated 10 percent increase in efficiency of control. The impact of this program is difficult to determine. However, Scotch Broom alone causes $48 million dollars in lost revenues in agriculture and forestry every year. That is just one weed on a list of many.
Even small increases in efficiency of controls will have significant impacts on revenue recovery.
There is no vacation for weed control. So, if you miss this year’s Weed Day, plan to attend one of our “summer school” programs called D.C. Weed Tours. These are outdoor excursions to study weed infestations, biological control agents and other hands-on exercises. Remember to just wear closed-toed shoes. I hope to see you at one of the programs.
<i>Shelby Filley is the Regional Livestock and Forages Specialist for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at shelby.filley@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.</i>
With an annual attendance of approximately 100, we have a great group that provides much interaction and sharing of experiences and wisdom. All attend for learning, but some also attend for pesticide re-certification credits to help retain licenses issued by Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Division.
The focus is on much more than just pesticides in the knowledge that weed control is most effective if practiced with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). These IPM methods include proper management of crops, forests, livestock, homes, gardens, yards, parks, roads, right-of-ways and other lands; alternative weed control methods, such as cultural and biological control; and cooperative weed control projects.
Program evaluations show a 26.8 percent increase in knowledge, which translates to an estimated 10 percent increase in efficiency of control. The impact of this program is difficult to determine. However, Scotch Broom alone causes $48 million dollars in lost revenues in agriculture and forestry every year. That is just one weed on a list of many.
Even small increases in efficiency of controls will have significant impacts on revenue recovery.
There is no vacation for weed control. So, if you miss this year’s Weed Day, plan to attend one of our “summer school” programs called D.C. Weed Tours. These are outdoor excursions to study weed infestations, biological control agents and other hands-on exercises. Remember to just wear closed-toed shoes. I hope to see you at one of the programs.
<i>Shelby Filley is the Regional Livestock and Forages Specialist for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at shelby.filley@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.</i>
