To reduce the negative effects of invasive weeds, the S.U.I.T. Agriculture Division offers a weed control service to tribal members who manage agricultural lands. This is a low cost service and provides herbicide applications on Tribal agricultural croplands. Sign up now to have weed management completed on your Tribal agricultural land. To talk with us more about this program, please call us at 563-0220 or stop by the Agriculture Division’s office.

Controlling noxious weeds is one of the biggest problems we face in the management of natural resources, not only here, but all over the country. Dozens of plant species found in this area are classified as noxious weeds. Most of which are non-native plants brought here from around the world, and without the natural controls found in their native environments they grow fast and unchecked. This allows for their rapid spread, and leads to larger problems over time.

Infestations of noxious weeds can displace native plant species, negatively impact soil health, threaten wildlife habitat, lowers the yields and quality of agricultural crops, creates monoculture stands of unusable plants, and takes limited water and nutrients resources away from more desirable plants. All of these situations can lead to serious damage, making the controlling of noxious weeds very important.

Proper management of irrigation water, livestock grazing, and attention to soil health are good preventive measures, that allows desirable plant species to out compete invading weeds. When stands of weeds do become established however, control or eradicating becomes a larger task. In most cases a multi-step integrated pest management plan will lead to the best long term success. Changes in land management practices, replanting desirable plants that will crowd out weed species, along with other practices are vital. Do to aggressive hardiness of these weeds and usually the large size of the infested area, it is most feasible to begin this process by applying chemical herbicides. When applied properly herbicides are highly affective, require less labor and cost less than other options. However, there are quite a few factors that must be considered before going out in the field and doing the work. Good planning is needed in order to get the best results and insure label directions are followed. Early treatment and correct timing are big factors on how affective your application will be.

So in order to successfully control weeds, not only now, but for years to come, it takes a combination of management activities that eliminates the already growing weeds and changes the growing conditions to prevent their regrowth. If you have questions about controlling noxious weeds or about the cost share program, please call us at 970-563-0220 and/or stop by our office.