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2016 Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT: September 26-29
205 W. Boutz Rd, Bldg. 4, Ste. 5, Las Cruces, NM 88005
(575) 649-7157 [email protected] April 2016
IN THIS ISSUE: President’s
message
NAISMA 2016
Conference
Information
Biocontrol
Committee
update
Emerald Ash
Borer
Play Clean Go
MT Noxious
Weed Training
for Realtors
Colorado Tax
Check Off for
CWMA
Common Reed
found in MT
Dow
Introduces Vastlan™
NAISMA
Sustaining
Members 2016
NAISMA now
on Facebook
A Message from the President As I am sitting here writing this message, it is 80 degrees with
very little wind and at the same time we are in a winter storm
watch for tomorrow. They are predicting 4-6” of snow with
50mph winds. It is just Nebraska weather, wait a day and it will
change. This winter has been an active one for the NAISMA
Board also:
We came together on January 13th and 14th in Salt Lake
City for a NAISMA Strategic Planning Meeting to develop some
goals and a plan for the next years of NAISMA. The document on
that meeting can be found on our website.
The WFF Committee has been busy with twine companies and is in the process of getting
the twine distributed. Mike Ronquillo stepped down from the NAISMA Board and as
WFF Coordinator in a career change. We are currently looking for a WFF Coordinator.
We wish Mike the best in the new career.
Earlier in the winter, Jamie Abbott also stepped down from the NAISMA Board. She
moved and is no longer involved in invasive species. We wish Jamie the best of
everything. We are looking to fill 2 NAISMA BOD positions. If anyone is interested
please contact us.
The Education and Outreach Committee has been active with the PLAYCLEANGO
Campaign providing information and creating new things.
The Legislative Committee has been working with USFWS and APHIS on some delays in
the permitting process of biocontrol agents.
The board has been going through a process of hiring a new Executive Director, Phil will
be retiring after our conference in Salt Lake City.
The Conference agenda and Tour is just about set. It will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah
on September 25-29 at the Little America Hotel. A great tour and conference is lined
up.!!!
Thank you for your continued support of this valuable association of local level, “on the ground”
invasive species managers. Your membership, sponsorship, and participation are vital in achieving
our mission, ‘to promote and empower invasive species management in North America’. Spring
will be springing up and “weeds won’t wait’. Stay safe this spring and summer!
Sincerely,
Rob Schultz - President
308-385-5097
Preview of the NAISMA Annual Conference 2016 September 26-29, 2016 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. (Meeting registration will open on May 1, 2016: Registration rate will be $225)
Mark your calendars for the next NAISMA meeting in Salt Lake City, UT. Below is a summary of the meeting Agenda. Tim Higgs, NAISMA local arrangements coordinator, along with Aaron Eager and his colleagues in the Utah Weed Supervisors Association, and Rich Riding, State Weed Specialist with the Utah Department of Agriculture have organized an interesting and informative meeting for everyone.
Meeting Agenda Summary (subject to change).
Monday, September 26
(Registration opens at noon)
Committee meetings starting at 9 am
Marketing and Outreach
Weed-Free Forage
Personal Development (discuss CMIP program)
Legislative
Others as requested
Board of Director’s meeting 3 pm to 5 pm.
Board of Director’s Dinner 6 pm.
Tuesday, September 27
(Registration opens at 7 am)
General Session 8 am to 9:00 am.
Dr. Corey Ransom, Utah State University: Managing Goatsrue (Galega officinalis L.)
Tour: 9:15 am to 6 pm (lunch provided). Fee TBD. See Tour details below.
Vendor Reception and Silent Auction. 7 pm to 9 pm.
Wednesday, September 28
(Registration opens at 7 am)
Buffet breakfast (sponsored)
General Session 8 am to 11 am.
Federal Agency Program Updates
- US Forest Service: Mike Ielmini
- BLM: Gina Ramos
- National Park Service: TBD
- Fish & Wildlife Service: TBD
NAISMA General Business Meeting 11 am to 11:45 am.
NAISMA Executive Board Meeting 11:45 am
Lunch Noon to 1:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions: 1:30 to 5 pm (specific agendas will be posted on website)
- Bio-Control
- Marketing and Outreach
- Prevention & Management
Awards Reception 6 pm
Awards Banquet 6:30 pm to 8 pm
Thursday, September 29
Continental Breakfast 7:30 am
Biocontrol Updates: Harriet Hinz CABI 8 am to Noon.
Take a tour in the Scenic Wasatch Mountain Range
Our Invasive Species Management Tour will begin in Salt Lake City, Utah and our first stop will be in
Heber’s beautiful Dutch Hollow to learn about a very successful project to control Leafy Spurge in an
“Urban Interface” environment.
Leafy spurge occurs in rangeland, pastures, prairies, roadsides, streams and ditches, and waste areas. It is
adapted to many habitat types that range from riparian sites to dry hillsides. Spurge is one of the earliest
plants to emerge in the spring and one of the last plants to enter dormancy in the fall. This early- and late-
season growth gives leafy spurge a competitive edge over native plants.
Our Invasive Species Tour will continue from Dutch Hollow aboard the Historic Heber Valley Railroad
down the scenic Provo Canyon to an informative stop at the Sundance Mountain Resort.
The Invasive Species Management Tour will have lunch provided at the Sundance Mountain Resort.
Sundance is an arts community, recreation, and a community of people who appreciate the beauty of nature
and feel the responsibility to preserve it.
Sundance offers over 25 miles of lift-serviced single-track mountain biking, over 10 miles of alpine trails for
the beginner to the expert hiker, and a full service of stables to experience horseback riding at its finest. The
Play, Clean, Go campaign is an essential part of the resorts Invasive Species management plan.
Our Invasive Species Tour will continue from Sundance Resort down scenic Provo Canyon into Utah Valley
to the Utah Lake State Park. Here we will learn about the Utah Lake Shoreline Restoration Project to
control Phragmites.
Utah Lake has roughly 75 miles of shoreline, which could be
utilized for sports, recreation, and the development of functional
wetland habitats. Phragmites proliferation will eventually choke out
the valuable wetlands found around Utah Lake and intrude upon the
habitat of several endangered or threatened species.
Utah Lake provides water not only to its county residents but also to Salt Lake County. As the third largest
fresh water lake in the western United States, Utah Lake contains ~902,400 acre feet of water when full. As
such, it is a very important part of the watershed both in quantity and for its quality.
The tour will focus on project specifics including; working in a wetland environment, specific equipment
needed when working in aquatic situations, impact to water quality through restoration efforts, and the
impacts to riparian species.
From the Utah Lake State Park, the Invasive Species Tour will head back to Salt Lake City to conclude the
tour.
Bio Control Committee Update – Making Progress in the Bio
Agent Petition Approval Bottleneck NAISMA Committee Action Helps Speed Approval of Whitetop and Toadflax
Control Agents
The NAISMA Bio Control Committee has been concerned about the bio agent petition approval bottleneck
that is slowing progress. In coordination with NAISMA’s goals, the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council sent a
letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) concerning the delays in the reviews of technical
advisory group (TAG) approved petitions for new bio control agent releases. Patrice Ashfield and Jeffery
Herod were receptive to the letter and took time to meet with Wyoming State Weed & Pest Coordinator
Slade Franklin, University of Wyoming bio control specialist Tim Collier, and Past NAISMA President
Aaron Foster over the phone. They discussed current actions that may help resolve the delays.
Ms. Ashfield is responsible for the Section 7 Consultation process which reviews biological assessments
(BA) for TAG approved bio control agents. She informed the group that the bottleneck is a result of 1.5 years
without three FWS positions responsible for reviewing the BAs and a new “action area” which now includes
the continental U.S. rather than specific planned release locations. She indicated that they could not keep up
with the review process.
Ms. Ashfield acquired Mr. Herod on work detail. He is focused on reviewing the BAs. Mr. Herod has a
background in invasive species management, understands what weed managers’ challenges are, and is
supportive of their needs. He is focused on moving the highest priority agents through the process. Two of
the agents in focus and of significance to many NAISMA members are a whitetop feeding mite and a yellow
toadflax feeding weevil.
Unfortunately, Mr. Herod’s detail will expire in six months and NAISMA is not certain as to his future under
this program. Ms. Ashfield assured the group that USFWS is working to secure a more permanent position to
oversee the BA process and accomplish the goals she and the USFWS have set.
Goal Highlights
Move TAG-approved agents through the queue quickly.
Prevent bottlenecks by establishing a position to focus on work and collaborate with APHIS to
establish a more efficient and functional process for reviewing bio control agent biological
assessments.
Meet with TAG to discuss and coordinate efficiencies between TAG, APHIS, and USFWS.
NAISMA’s concerns were genuinely heard and USFWS is making strides in the right direction to improve
the agent approval process. NAISMA is confident that USFWS is in support of bio control and they often
find success with bio control on their lands. Ms. Ashfield and Mr. Herod have indicated that barring any
unforeseen conditions, the whitetop feeding mite review process will be complete by this spring and the
yellow toadflax feeding weevil by fall.
A concern yet to be determined is whether a permanent position focused on bio control agent environmental
assessments will be initiated. NAISMA and other groups have offered support for approving this position as
soon as possible and establish a more secure, efficient, and consistent process so that our contributions
towards overseas research and development continue to drive more integrated weed management tools for
our most significant invasive weed problems.
_____________________________________________________ Note of Interest: The Alberta Invasive Species Council obtained a grant from the Government of Alberta, Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Forest Health) for $20,000 for Common Tansy biocontrol research. AISC will be sending the money to CABI in Switzerland to continue the work on common tansy biocontrol agents.
Emerald Ash Borer: Exotic Killer of Native Ash Trees Laurie Stepanek, Forest Health Specialist
Nebraska Forest Service
Many of you have heard of the tiny green beetle that is spreading across the country and destroying our native ash trees. The emerald ash borer, or EAB, has killed hundreds of millions of trees since its discovery over 10 years ago, and many forest health experts consider it to be the most destructive forest pest ever to hit North America.
In the late 1990s researchers were puzzling over the deaths of thousands of ash trees in southeast Michigan. The numerous small white larvae they saw under the bark were discounted as a common secondary invader of dying trees. In 2002, Dave Roberts, a forest pathologist from Michigan State University, reared some of the larvae to adults—and discovered a beautiful metallic green beetle never before seen in the U.S. Eventually it was identified as Agrilus planipennis, a species native to China, Japan and other east Asian countries.
Because it spends much of its life beneath the bark of trees, this exotic beetle probably hitched a ride to the U.S. aboard Asian cargo ships, hidden in pallets or crates made of infested ash wood. The insects found plenty of ash trees to infest in their new home, and over the next several years EAB established itself throughout the Detroit area and beyond.
Today, 25 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces have documented EAB infestations. New cases are discovered every year. http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/MultiState_EABpos.pdf
North American species of ash are highly susceptible to EAB. Green, white and black ash in the Great Lakes states have been wiped out, including trees in native woodlands and valuable ornamentals lining streets and shading homes. The pest can attack and kill healthy trees of all sizes in just a few years.
EAB beetles can fly short distances–up to 5 or 6 miles–but normally do not fly far from their brood tree. Long distance movement occurs mainly through infested wood; firewood transport into campgrounds, parks or backyard firewood piles is a common avenue.
To slow the spread of EAB, quarantines prohibit the movement of ash wood and nursery stock out of infested areas. Anyone wishing to move ash material must work with a regulatory agency, such as their state’s department of agriculture, to secure a compliance agreement. Outside of quarantined areas, use of local sources of firewood is encouraged.
Chemical treatments are available to protect trees, but they do come with drawbacks, such as damage to the trunk from trunk injections and negative impacts on the environment. High-value trees in good condition are the best candidates for treatment and only if those trees are within 15 miles of a known EAB infestation.
Suspected infestations should be reported to your local department of agriculture. Symptoms include:
• D-shaped exit holes in the bark, 1/8th inch across
• winding tunnels just below the bark
• bark stripping by woodpeckers (feeding on larvae)
• thinning foliage
• dieback of branches
• suckering/sprouting along trunk
Because of EAB’s aggressive nature and ability to spread quickly once established, communities with a large ash component to their urban forest should develop an EAB management plan and begin removing marginal ash trees before EAB arrives. Planting a variety of replacement trees will help maintain the benefits of the urban tree canopy.
More information on emerald ash borer:
Laurie Stepanek: [email protected]
http://nfs.unl.edu/emerald-ash-borer
____________________________________________________________
Heard of PlayCleanGo? If not, check it out!
By: Shantell Frame-Martin, Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign
& PlayCleanGo Newsletter Chair
Have you been looking for a great comprehensive invasive species educational message? If so,
look no further than PlayCleanGo (PCG)! This awesome invasive species education campaign
promotes the tagline, ‘Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks’ and encourages recreationalists to
take preventative measures both before and after recreating to help reduce the spread of invasive
species. PCG currently has 264 partners from all across North America!
How do YOU get involved?
Just visit the PCG website: http://www.playcleango.org/join.html to join. By becoming a PCG
partner, you not only get your agency/entity/organization’s name and logo on the PCG website,
you gain access to a HUGE digital library of print ready brochures, informational fliers, trail signs,
handouts, educational items/materials, commercials, and educational videos!
The best part? It’s completely FREE!!! PCG was started in Minnesota and is funded through State & Private Forestry Monies and through
the US Forest Service. When you become a PCG partner you also receive a quarterly newsletter
jam packed full of articles, resources, PCG events and ideas about how to use and promote PCG!
So, what are YOU waiting for?
Visit the PCG website and pledge your support by signing your county/agency/organization up as a
PCG partner!
Adult emerald ash borer beetle
with typical D-shaped exit hole.
Photo courtesy of University of
Illinois
Winding tunnels underneath
the bark.
MONTANA REALTOR NOXIOUS WEED ONLINE TRAINING COURSE
The Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign, a cooperative effort that includes the
Montana Department of Agriculture and Montana State University, has a new online
training course for realtors. Noxious weeds can impair wildlife habitat, increase erosion,
impact hydrologic cycles and reduce productivity on farms and ranches.
The course was offered for free to the first 50 registrants, and is intended to equip
realtors with a broad understanding of noxious weeds, including noxious weed impacts,
identification, law and integrated management techniques.
The course consists of five parts: “Noxious Weeds 101,” “Plant Anatomy and
Identification,” “Noxious Weed Identification,” “Understanding Montana County Noxious
Weed Control Act,” and “Integrated Weed Management.”
The course is certified through the Association for Real Estate License Law Officials and
the Montana Board of Realty Regulation, and it is approved for four continuing education
credits in the Environmental Issues category.
If you would like additional information about the noxious weed online training course,
please contact: Shantell Frame-Martin, Program Coordinator, at (406) 444-9491 or
[email protected] or Dr. Jane Mangold, Associate Professor and Extension
Invasive Plant Specialist at (406) 994-5513 or [email protected].
_________________________________________________________
From Terry Turner, Hill County Weed Coordinator, Havre, Montana
In Hill and Blaine County, MT, an infestation of
Common Reed (Phragmites australis ssp.
australis) was found along the BNSF railroad. The
Montana Department of Ag just listed Common
Reed on the Montana noxious weed list. Common
phragmites is located around the state but this is
the only infestation of the non-native species.
DNA samples were sent to Chicago to confirm.
About 2 acres are scattered along a section of track
for about 14 miles. A grant from the state DNRC
has helped in mapping the infestation and the area
will be burned off and treated this summer. BNSF
has been contacted and will be in charge of
contacting their applicator to make sure to help
eradicate this infestation. So double check your
railroad corridor for this very large weed (13 feet
tall).
Colorado State Tax Check Off for Support of CWMA
Colorado Weed Management Association with the help of our lobbyist (Peak Resources)
was able to get on the state tax check off for Colorado income tax returns. This is a
program that allows non-profit organizations to apply for tax dollars to aide in education
by no-profits. Tax payers can chose to donate to several causes on their tax returns.
Currently there are 15 organizations on the checkoff. CWMA applied a few years ago and
finally got on with the title of the check off being "Colorado for Healthy Landscapes".
Funds donated will be used to educate Colorado residents about noxious/invasive weeds
and land stewardship. We are looking forward to this new venture to educate residents and
visitors to Colorado.
Dow AgroSciences introduces Vastlan™ specialty herbicide
The Dow AgroSciences Industrial Vegetation Management (IVM) business introduces Vastlan™
specialty herbicide, a new high-load triclopyr formulation providing the vegetation management
industry with an advanced foundation product for brush control. Label approval was received from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on February 25, 2016.
“Vastlan offers multiple advantages over other triclopyr formulations, including Garlon 3A
specialty herbicide,” says Dave Owens, IVM and Range & Pasture portfolio marketing leader,
Dow AgroSciences. “Its improved high-load formulation allowed for a label signal word of
‘Warning’ in comparison to the ‘Danger’ signal word Garlon 3A and other similar triclopyr
herbicides carry.” The higher loading of active ingredient in Vastlan allows vegetation managers to decrease the
volume of herbicide handled by 25 percent compared with similar formulations, ensuring greater
efficiencies in shipping, handling, mixing and triple rinsing of containers. Vastlan™ specialty
herbicide also will be available through Continuum™ Prescription Control & Container
Management System, allowing for the additional benefits of closed system handling and custom
blending with other herbicides and adjuvants.
Vastlan can be used on almost any use site, including aquatic sites, and in a variety of application
methods. It’s well-suited for foliar broadcast applications where it’s a total reclamation situation.
It’s also an effective formulation for side-trimming applications and in individual plant treatments,
including cut-surface and low-volume foliar applications. (The mention of a product name does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by NAISMA
or the NAISMA Board of Directors)
NAISMA Board & Staff Board of Directors
Rob Schultz, President
David Moorhead, President Elect
Aaron Foster, Past President
Laura Poile, Treasurer & Secretary
Julie Knudson
David Moorhead
Melissa Maggio-Kassner
Mike Stenson
Teresa Wickeham
Kelly Cooley
Mark Daluge
Staff Phil Banks, Executive Director
Open, Newsletter Editor
Kellie Sellers, Website Editor
205 W. Boutz Rd, Bldg 4, Ste 5
Las Cruces, NM 88005
(575) 649-7157 www.naisma.org
________________________________________________________
Find us on Facebook
NAISMA now has a presence on Facebook! You can find us under North American
Invasive Species Management Association. We will be sharing posts that are of interest to
invasive species managers as well as information concerning the NAISMA Conference
and other association happenings. Like our page to keep up to data on invasive species
management in North America!
2015-16 NAISMA Sustaining Members
Platinum Level
Dow AgroSciences Canada
Syngenta Crop Protection Gold Level
CPS Timberland
Nebraska Weed Control Assoc
Bayer Vegetation Management
Alligare LLC
Dow AgroSciences
Wyoming Weed & Pest Council Copper Level
Brazeau County, Alberta
Ohio Seed Improvement Assoc
Missoula County Weed District
Minnesota Crop Improvement Assoc
Monsanto Company
Red Deer County
Integrated Weed Control
North Dakota Dept of Agriculture
Wallowa County Vegetation Dept.
Tri-County Weed Control
Sturgeon County
Teton County Weed & Pest Bronze Level
Arizona Crop Improvement Assoc.
Missouri Crop Improvement Assoc.
Specialty Consultants, LLC
Kentucky Seed Improvement Assoc
Ward County Weed Dept.
Fremont County
Ohio Crop Improvement Assoc.
Montana Weed Control Assoc.
Wisconsin Crop Improvement Assoc.
North Dakota Weed Control Assoc.
Socorro Soil & Water Conservation Dist.
GPS Montana LLC Division Reds Fix it LLC
Chaffee County Weed Dept.
University of Georgia, David Moorhead
Clear Hills County
Prairie Environmental Services LTD
