Noxious weeds and prohibited species are everywhere!
That's the message that Art Preachuk, agriculture services manager of Red Deer County, spread to attendees of the May 20 Innisfail and District Chamber of Commerce's monthly lunch meeting at the Super 8 Hotel.
“The cost of weed control and eradication in Innisfail and the county of Red Deer can be measured in the millions of dollars,” said Preachuk. “According to a 2006 study, the cost associated with noxious and prohibited weeds was in excess of $7.5 billion. If we were to update that number it might be close to $10 billion in 2014. Simply put, weeds cost money.”
He pointed out that many of the attractive plants we have in our gardens and acreages are actually noxious and literally choke the life out of our green spaces.
“There are weeds that actually consume water and will kill lakes and ponds that have been seen in the Innisfail area,” said Preachuk. “For instance, in Buffalo Pond around Innisfail, flowering rush is found but we are deciding how to deal with the invasive plant.”
Preachuk spoke on the importance of early detection and rapid response once an unknown plant is discovered.
“If a weed infestation is discovered in the early stages, the cost associated with its removal is far less than if we discover it and remove it after it has become rampant,” added Preachuk. “For instance, Himilayan balsam has been found in Innisfail and around Pigeon Lake. Himilayan balsam chokes vegetation around the lake and takes nutrients from the soil, which could go to trees and benevolent species.”
He added the county's AgServices department has a contract with the Town of Innisfail to patrol and advise citizens on potential noxious weed infestations.
“We look for leafy spurge, field scabious, white cockle, Canada thistle, tall buttercup, ox-eye daisy, yellow toadflax and Himilayan balsam as we drive through town,” said the inspector. “Once we find a dangerous weed we leave behind a door knocker with pictures on what we found, and trust the homeowner to take steps to eliminate the weed. If not, we can come in and do it for them at a cost.”
He said a big part of their job is education and working with people to help them fight weeds but that is only a fraction of their other functions.
“The county also has equipment and expertise available to help residents fight weeds, whether you are a farmer or a homeowner,” said Preachuk. “We operate conservation programs, including the region's Alternate Land Use Services program, rodent control, and other related services. We will help anyone who asks us.”
For more information on noxious weeds property owners can go to www.invasiveplants.ca and www.rdcounty.ca .
