Fall2011 UNPDF

N orth A merican W eed M anagement A ssociation

NAWMAlogue

Volume 17, Number 2 Fall/Winter Newsletter

President’s Report – Fred Raish

This time of year brings changes. These changes are felt in the weather, seen on

T.V. with the political ads, and recognized by NAWMA at the Annual Conference.

As the new President of NAWMA I would like to thank all of those individuals that

have served before me. Without those individuals, past Presidents of NAWMA,

past NAWMA Board of Directors, and past NAWMA committee members, the

current NAWMA could not have been built. I would personally like to thank Greg

Hensel for his active role as NAWMA’s President last year. Greg has steered the

NAWMA ship in a new and positive direction.

As I said at the beginning of this column, this time of year brings change,

but truthfully I would like to discuss the changes that NAWMA has been part of over the last year. Let me start

with the formation of Healthy Habitats Coalition (HHC). As each of you should know by now HHC has made some

great strides and connections in the invasive species world. HHC’s main goal is promoting invasive species control

through advocacy at the federal level. HHC has made huge strides and continues to build bridges with numerous

political, educational, and grassroots groups and/or individuals that are interested in invasive species control and

advocacy. HHC has formulated The Five (5) Asks, which has been adopted by resolution from the Western

Governors Association and the National Association of State Department of Agriculture. All the HHC information

can be viewed on the NAWMA website at www.nawma.org . Remember to visit the NAWMA website to download

the HHC/NASCAR fundraiser registration form for the opportunity to watch a NASCAR race in Las Vegas,

sponsored by DuPont, and the opportunity to further the HHC efforts on advocacy.

As the Vice‐President of NAWMA, I had the opportunity to meet with the Board of Directors for the Weed

Science Society of America (WSSA) at their summer meeting in Portland, Oregon. This meeting was an excellent

opportunity to promote a partnership between NAWMA and WSSA. During the course of the meeting the

representatives of WSSA and myself came to an agreement that it is important for groups like WSSA and NAWMA

to come together to promote invasive species control. This cooperation can be seen with the practitioner forum

during the WSSA Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon from February 7‐10, 2011. The practitioner forum will give

the on the ground Weed Managers a chance to start a conversation with University Extension, Research Faculty,

and Industry. The forum’s goal is to find better ways to communicate research findings to Weed Managers and

for Weed Managers to communicate their information needs to researchers. I urge as many of you as possible to

take part in the WSSA forum whether that is by participating in person or sending your comments and questions

to NAWMA to get relayed to WSSA. Another exciting opportunity that is being worked on between NAWMA and

WSSA is the opportunity to become a member of WSSA at a discounted rate when you pay your NAWMA dues.

NAWMA and WSSA have been working to offer NAWMA members a $50 membership to WSSA which will give

NAWMA members a chance to receive the WSSA Invasive Plant Science & Management journal currently

published by WSSA. More information on this opportunity will be published on the NAWMA website and sent out

by email when the agreement is finalized. Remember to check out the WSSA website for information on their

upcoming Annual Conference www.wssa.net .

***OFFICERS***

President

Fred Raish

Yuma County Pest District

PO Box 311

Yuma, CO 80759

(970) 848-2509

Vice-President

Mark Cardinal

53109A SH 779

Parkland County, AB T7Z 1R1

Canada

(780) 968-8467

Secretary/Treasurer

Jeff Vogel

Kansas Dept. of Agriculture

PO Box 19282

Topeka, KS 66619

(785) 862-2180

Executive Director

Mike J. Friesen

PO Box 687

Meade, KS 67864

(620) 873-8730

Fax: (620) 873-8733

Greg Hensel

Past President

The 18 th Annual

Conference in

Pueblo is done

and was a great

success. Fred

Raish and Larry

Walker did a great

job with the tour and the speakers. The speakers

covered a wide variety of topics that will affect

all weed managers in the future.

law suit any time you apply a herbicide. Will

your program survive the people who do not

want any herbicides applied?

There was so much information passed on at the

conference that will apply to all of us in our jobs.

Hopefully this information will get posted on the

NAWMA website along with

the contact

information of the speakers.

I would like to thank everyone in NAWMA for the

help and encouragement this past year. I would

like to say thanks to the Board of Directors for

their help and support and ask that you also give

as much help to President Raish. May you all

express your opinions in well thought out

discussions with the goal of promotion and

education. For NAWMA to continue to grow and

stay on the frontline, all members must be

involved and discuss ideas that promote invasive

weed control and education of the public.

The combining of EDDMapS with the NAWMA

standards for a map source nationwide has great

possibilities. If this works, the points on the map

will be to the NAWMA standard. This will be

great in two ways, the points will all be done to

the same standard and managers can use it for

seeing what is getting close to them and the land

they are in charge of controlling.

Randy Westbrooks talked about early detection

and having a contact in each state. This has been

his theme for several years and through

perseverance it is happening. If we had all paid

more attention to EDRR our worst weed

problems would be much smaller, cost less and

use less time. We all need to push EDRR forward

and have the contact people in place.

Important Message to Members

If you would like to receive

the NAWMAlogue via email only

in the future please send me

your email address. Send it

to: nawmamjf@gmail.com

Sandra McDonald’s talk on the clean water act

and the need for NPDES was the information that

scared me the most. The fact is it all has to be

done by April 2011 and yet it is unclear as to how

it will affect the applicators, farmers and weed

control people. Depending on your state’s

permitting process you could have it easy or

hard. The new rules could open you up to a civil

This will be a “NEW” list

only for those desirous of an

email only NAWMAlogue. Any

member not submitting an

email address will continue

to receive their copies via

regular mail.

Healthy Habitats Coalition State-based Advocacy Team Effort

Healthy Habitats Coalition (HHC) is organizing a State-based Advocacy Team Effort in

Washington DC March 14-17, 2011 consisting of three individuals per state team to collaborate

with other HHC Advocacy Teams. With HHC Teamwork, we will work at the state and national

levels to insure The Five (5) Asks for Invasive Species Control are completed. Participants will

be asked to contact and dialogue with targeted policy makers coordinated by HHC. HHC will

align assignments by providing advocacy training that prepares you to be an effective advocate

with assigned legislators and executive leaders on a state and federal level. Participants will be

prepared with a detailed review of each Ask and will help facilitate the opportunity to meet with

key leaders in Congress and the Administration.

HHC has been working at the state, regional, and national level to advance collective interest in

obtaining new resources and gaining more effective federal participation in management efforts.

As a result of these efforts, the Western Governors Association and the National Association of

State Departments of Agriculture have recently passed Resolutions in support of invasive species

management.

THE CRITICAL FIVE (5) ASKs TO JUMP START CONTROL PROGRAMS

1. By 2013, Federal land management agencies are strongly encouraged to increase their on-the-

ground control obligation by five-fold and decrease infested acres by 25%.

2. It is highly recommended that Federal agencies provide a state pass through fund assessed at 25

cents on each state’s federally managed acre. State(s) entities can then submit a request from this

critical pool of money based upon a consistent set of criteria and a measurable control strategy to reduce

current infestation levels or stop new invasions. Funds may be passed to the Governor or appropriate

Department annually; at least 70% of the funds should be utilized for on-the-ground control.

3. The FHA could significantly impact the current spread rate by authorizing $150 per every

center line mile of state highways. Consistent invasives management on highway rights-of-way is

required. Money can be passed to each state DOT Maintenance Section annually to improve control.

4. Each state should develop and implement an invasive species plan and law to receive and

manage funding under that legal obligation in collaboration with the appropriate federal agencies.

5. States are strongly encouraged to work in regional concert to educate the public about invasive

species issues . All natural resource management agencies, state/local governments, universities, nonprofit

organizations, industry, and the private sector should collaborate to form partnerships for protecting and

restoring natural areas, agricultural land, and recreational resources.

Jeff Vogel

Tim Higgs

After reviewing my notes

and looking at the agenda

from our conference I was

impressed on how well the

committee did on the

program. We learned many

things. I was very

impressed with Sheilah Kennedy’s presentation on

“Portable Invasive Species Rise Off and Reclaim

System”. I think this is something every state

should look into to help stop the spread of

invasive species. She showed how it was used to

clean vehicles going to and coming back from the

fire lines on wild land fires. There were

presentations on how counties and states are

working together to help control invasive weeds

across boundary lines. I have been working with

Jude Sirota with the purple loosestrife along the

Colorado River in Utah and Colorado. Her

presentation talked about the cooperation of many

agencies working together for the common good

of all parties. There was also a presentation that

covered a much larger area with the Missouri

River Watershed Coalition, which covers a few

states.

What a wonderful

location to have an

annual conference!

Pueblo, Colorado

offered many things

to do and see,

including the

wonderful scenery.

It was great to wake

up in the morning, look out the window and see

Pikes Peak.

The conference started off on Tuesday

with many speakers discussing a wide range of

topics surrounding invasive weed management.

One speaker that stood out in my mind, was

Sandra McDonald, Founder, Mountain West

P.E.S.T. She presented on EPA Hot Topics and

focused her talk on the court ruling in 2009 that

will require EPA, starting in April 2011 to issue

NPDES permits for herbicide applications made in

or around water. The discussions centered on

EPA’s draft general permit, which has not been

finalized and will be what many states model their

general permit. Many of the provisions that were

explained may cause additional obstacles when

individuals or businesses apply herbicides in or

around water above an arbitrary acreage threshold.

Some legislative solutions have been proposed,

but no one knows if those will move forward. The

bottom line is to expect some sort of new

regulations

I was glad to hear about what the 2.4-D task force

has been doing on their continued research. They

have been looking at research, which says that 2,4-

D causes cancer in dogs. The research they did

and that of others has shown that it is not a cancer-

causing agent.

in

April

for

those

who

apply

herbicides in or around water. So stay tuned!

Wednesday provided the attendees an

opportunity to view some of the local weed issues,

herbicide demonstration plots, and scenery around

Pueblo. It was excellent to see yellow starthistle,

a weed that is not known to exist in Kansas, and

several plots that demonstrated DuPont’s new

active ingredient, aminocyclopyrachlor. Although

salt cedar is prevalent in Kansas, it was great to

see a location where biological control was

working. Hopefully the insect will continue to

move naturally down the Arkansas River into

Kansas.

Overall, the 2010 NAWMA Annual

Conference was excellent and many thanks to

Larry Walker and Fred Raish for organizing the

event. Hopefully we will see you in Winnipeg in

2011!

I am looking forward to trying the new Mat-28

chemical. We were able to see test plots on how

well MAT-28 worked on our field trip.

Dr. George Beck’s talk on asking the federal

government to have $0.25 from every dollar make

it on the ground for weed control is something all

of us should be asking our congressional

representatives to make happen. In the western

states the federal government owns much of the

land.

For those who were not able to attend you missed

a fun evening at the casino night activity. Fred and

Larry and the rest who helped them with this

conference did a wonderful job. I hope to see all

of you in Canada next year.

NAWMA Weed Free Materials 2010- 2011 Challenge!!

I am really excited to see the board members reaching out and expanding NAWMA in many

different areas. The Board is looking at promoting and making our programs more visible.

This is a challenge to all of us . I would welcome any ideas that would do just that.

A couple of ideas that have been given to me are to contact grain growers and crop

associations to let them know about our weed free program. This could help them market

their products as weed free. Other great ideas are working with other Forest Service Regions,

all Department of Transportations, and other agencies. We could help them get on board by

educating them about prevention and how much money would be saved by purchasing weed

free materials.

I would really like to hear or see studies on: How much would have been saved or how much

has been saved by purchasing weed free products. Where did that weed come from and what

has it cost us? Road, Hay, Seed, Vehicle, Sleeping bag/tent, Animal?

If there are studies on these topics, please let me know so I can get a brochure compiling the

information. This could then be used to help educate more people. Any information would

be useful if we can get it to the right people.

Prevention is one of the greatest tools we have and is the least costly!! Please help us

promote weed free materials in your agency, state, county, city, town, or in whatever capacity

you have to offer. Again, this is a challenge to all of us. If there is anything I can do to assist

with this project please let me know. You may contact me directly from the NAWMA website.

www.nawma.org

Adrianne Peterson - WFF Coordinator

Weed Free Forage Report 2010

There are more interested people in the gravel program. The

presentations I have given went well with rave reviews.

We included the gravel inspection into the train the trainer again this year.

The twine situation is hopefully worked out. The new color has been well

received. The twine seems to be higher quality and the colors show better than last years.

I still have several states and provinces contacting me. They are very worthwhile programs with room

to grow. Manitoba and British Columbia are very interested in the programs. Hopefully when we have

our conference next year in BC this will really get the ball rolling on the weed free program!!

Saskatchewan is working on a weed free forage program. They want me to assist them late this year

or early next year. This is a continuation of what we started a few years back. There should be

someone from up there at this yearʼs meeting too!!

We have 22 States, 2 Counties, and 1 Province involved in the program. Hopefully we will get another

couple of Provinces.

Sheilah Kennedy

Editor Note: Sheilah has been invaluable to NAWMA

for a long time, serving as President of NAWMA as

well as Chairperson of many committees over the

years. She will be missed. On the following pages are

reports Sheilah has submitted for this NAWMAlogue.

--- Nomination Report ---

There were 10 nominations submitted for the 5

NAWMA Board Positions. Board Members voted in

during the NAWMA Annual Conference are: John

Cantlon, CO - Mark Cardinal, Alberta Julie Kraft, WY -

Rob Schultz, NE - Cheryl Heming, Manitoba - Ron

Moehring, SD - filling David Heck’s unexpired term.

The NAWMA Board of Directors would like to express their appreciation to the following

individuals that were not elected to the Board and look forward to their interest next year.

Robert (Bob) Parsons, WY - Dave Burch, MT - Dennis Peterson, KS - Becky Kington, MT and

Nyleen Troxel, NM. The NAWMA Board of Directors looks forward to working with everyone

and is thankful for their interest serving on the Board and being committed to being an active

Board Member.

NASCAR Report

The NAWMA Board of Directors and Healthy

Habitats Coalition (HHC) along with DuPont organized a

fundraiser that reaches out to the NASCAR fan base.

The President of DuPont, Mr. James Collins listened to the

NAWMA Board of Directors idea that Education and Outreach

sometimes are hard to reach everyone to allow them to understand the

importance of why everyone needs to prevent, control and eradicate non

native noxious weeds and invasive pests.

Mr. Collins agreed to help by connecting #24 NASCAR Driver, Jeff Gordon and his

connection with DuPont to assist us in reaching out to the NASCAR fan base!

Proceeds will be provided directly to HHC to help our WA DC work developing legislation and holding our Federal

Agencies accountable and responsible for invasive species and noxious weed issues on federal lands.

Communicate, be active with NAWMA and let NAWMA do the work at the WA DC level through our HHC

commitment. ***** The winner of the NASCAR Raffle was: Steve McNamee, Assistant Supervisor ‐ Laramie

County Weed and Pest ‐ Pine Bluffs, WY *****

********************************************

-The EDRR Committee is looking for active leaders in all States to implement EDRR-

On the next page is a handout that Dr. Randy Westbrooks provided at the conference that clearly outlines EDRR

steps to expedite implementation. These steps can be modified to fit specific needs of each state or county program.

The goal of the EDRR Committee is to be active and implement the following steps across the United States and

Canada to provide a coordinated approach to new invaders and eradicate them before we allow these species to get

established.

U.S. National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants

Recommendations for Developing New Capacity for EDRR at the State and Regional Levels

Randy G. Westbrooks, Leslie J. Mehrhoff and John D. Madsen

Development of the U.S. National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants depends on

the development of state and local capacity for preventing the establishment and spread of new invasive plants.

Steps in developing EDRR capacity at the state/provincial and local levels include:

1. Establish a State/Provincial EDRR Coordinating Committee

a. Develop a Committee Work Plan (template available upon request)

b. Identify Committee Members; Develop an EDRR Target List

c. Develop a Clear Communications Structure with Protocols for Reporting, ID and Vouchering, Data

Archival, Rapid Assessments, and Rapid Response Initiatives

2. Develop and Train a State Early Detection and Reporting Network (EDRN)

a. Agency Field Personnel (Department of Natural Resource Biologists, Nature Conservancy Land

Stewards, County Extension Agents, County Weed Supervisors, County Ag Fieldmen, etc.)

b. EDRN Volunteers (Native Plant Society Members, Friends Groups, Civics Club Members, Master

Gardeners, Fishermen, Scouts, etc.)

3. Identify, Survey, and Monitor Important Natural and Managed Resources that are at Risk from

Biological Invasion.

a. Conduct Weekend Bio-Blitzes for New Weeds at Selected Parks, Forests, Refuges, etc.

b. Monitor High Hazard Sites Where New Invasive Species May Become First Established (e.g.,

Maritime Ports of Entry, International Airports, Bonded Warehouses, Free Trade Zones, Inland

Intermodal Shipping Terminals)

4. Develop a State/Provincial Invasive Plant Atlas – or Archive Data in Regional Data Base such as

IPANE or EDDmapS

a. Archival of Field Data Records Submitted by the EDRN

b. ‘Real-time’ Distribution Information on EDRR Target Species – Beneficial for:

i. Creating Distribution Maps of EDRR Target Species

ii. Ecological Niche Modeling Research

iii. Planning Invasive Plant Control Programs

5. Rapid Assessment - Conduct Rapid Assessments of Newly Reported Species that are not already

Regulated within a State (regulated species generally don’t require a new assessment).

a. Identify an appropriate lead agency to address a particular new invasive plant problem – OR –

b. Recommend the establishment of an invasive plant task force to address a new invasive plant

problem that cannot be addressed by a single agency.

6. Rapid Response – Develop a Rapid Response Plan to Address Specific Problems.

a. Assist the designated lead agency in addressing a new invasive plant problem –

b. OR – establish an invasive plant task force to address the problem – as appropriate. The Carolinas

Beach Vitex is a good example of a successful interagency partnership.

The EDRR Committee Chair will be contacting committee members to request a 6 month report on any

new EDRR programs or policies implemented across the United States and Canada.

If you are interested in being an active committee member please submit your name and contact

information by contacting NAWMA.org under the EDRR tab, or contact:

NAWMA EDRR Committee: www.nawma.org

Or - Randy G. Westbrooks, USGS BRD

233 Border Belt Drive, Whiteville, NC 28472

Phone: 910-648-6762 E-mail: rwestbrooks@usgs.gov

Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR)

Committee Report

By ‐ Julie Kraft and Cheryl Heming

A new goal for the committee is to find

an EDRR active contact person for each state.

We will start with the NAWMA committee and

membership lists and then go to state weed

coordinators for help. Hopefully these

contacts can then pursue state plans and

perform statewide or regional EDRR train the

trainer workshops.

Randy Westbrooks has met with many

states and Providences to start or introduce

them to the idea of EDRR and initiated the first

steps to form local EDRR committees. If you

are involved with one of these local EDRR

committees please send us a message to let us

know your committee status and if you have a

plan in place. We hope to be able to post state

or providence plans and contact people, along

with EDRR factsheets, and success examples

on the NAWMA webpage!

Las Vegas – NAWMA, HHC & DuPont

By ‐ Rob Schultz

The NAWMA Board of Directors met on

Saturday March 5, 2011 at the Golden Nugget

Hotel in Las Vegas for our annual spring

meeting. Tracee Bentley, Executive Director of

the Healthy Habitats Coalition (HHC), was in

attendance to update the group on the

upcoming advocacy week in Washington DC

March 14‐18. Discussion followed on the five

ASK’s that the HHC would be asking for from

Congress and the federal agencies. There were

also updates on the 2011 NAWMA Conference

that is going to be in Winnipeg Manitoba,

Canada in September, a possible joint 2012

NAWMA Conference with NRVMA, Weed Free

Forage Video, NPDES permitting, format of the

NAWMAlogue, and discussion on FY12 budget

for the elimination of the Federal Noxious

Weed Program.

HHC needed to raise some money for a

political advocacy effort to increase invasive

species funding to stop the harm of invading

invasive species populations. NAWMA, Healthy

Habitats Coalition (HHC), and DuPont teamed

up for a HHC Fundraiser. DuPont Crop

Protection sponsored a NASCAR weekend in

Las Vegas with the proceeds from the sale of

the tickets going to HHC. DuPont has been a

great corporate sponsor of NAWMA and

invasive species activities. With the new

herbicides coming out from DuPont, that

makes them a big player in the invasive species

herbicide market.

I am on the NAWMA Nominations

Committee and there will be some of the

current board of director’s terms expiring this

upcoming fall. We will be looking for some

new energetic people to fill those positions and

assist us in leading this organization into the

future. Please consider becoming a part of this

organization.

NAWMA Awards Committee Report

By ‐ Julie Kraft and Ron Moehring

The awards committee has received

three recommendations for awards. We are

open to take other award recommendations.

Please pass them on to either Ron or Julie!

We have also been working on a

database of all awards recipients to present. If

you have any information on this, please pass it

on.

Julie will look into an easier to read

award for the 2011 award plaques.

2010 International Issues

Committee Report

Sheilah Kennedy

Introduced Invasive Species Bills:

On March 3, 2010, Senator Harry Reid, Nevada,

introduced S 3063, the Invasive Species

Emergency Response Fund Act‐" A bill to direct

the Secretary of the Interior to provide loan to

certain organizations in certain States to address

habitats and ecosystems and to address and

prevent invasive species." The bill is co‐

sponsored by Senator Begich (AK), Bennet (CO),

Bennett (UT), Feinstein (CA), Merkely (OR),

Murkowski (AK), and Wyden (OR).

Congressman Don Young (Alaska) introduced the

House companion bill HR 4782.

NAWMA International Issues Committee is asking

you to contact your Representatives and Senators

to discuss the importance of these introduced

Bills. It is also important to request S3063 and

HR4782 be expanded to cover all States. If your

Senator or Congressman is already supporting

these bills, please remember to contact them

expressing your support "Thank" them

NAWMA Board of Directors on behalf of

President Greg Hensel submitted the following

letters of support and comments:

Environmental Protection Agency

Docket “EPA‐HQ‐OPP‐2009‐0628” The North

America Weed Management Association,

representing members across the United States

and Canada is concerned with EPA’s guidance for

zero drift standards. Setting such standards

would place many of our programs in jeopardy if

there were a potential drift scenario. Simply put

the potential lawsuit would consume our budget

and end programs.

The North America Weed Management

Association (NAWMA) supports the "no

unreasonable adverse effect" standard in the

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide

Act, which governs pesticide registration and use

and applying the penalties to the fullest when not

in compliance.

for

introducing S.3063 and H.R.4782.

The introduced Legislation can be reviewed in it’s

entirety at: http://thomas.loc.gov/

The Environmental Protection Agency’s plans for

finalizing and implementing its NPDES general

permit for applications of pesticides over water

are “overly optimistic” and could result in a

number of adverse consequences, one of the

agency’s critics says.

According to reports, EPA now hopes to complete

its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination

System permit for applications of pesticides over

water by December. EPA and most of the states

would then begin implementing and enforcing

the permit program starting next April.

This Western Farm Press article can be found at:

http://westernfarmpress.com/government/epa‐

s‐npdes‐permit‐plans‐too‐optimistic.com

Testifying at a Senate Agriculture Committee

hearing, the president of CropLife America said

not only do many believe EPA and the states

won’t meet that schedule, but they worry that the

permitting system will impose hardships on small

businesses and negate many of the public health

achievements of recent years.

NAWMA supports maintaining the FIFRA risk

based standard of “no unreasonable adverse

effects”.

NAWMA believes the applicator on site is best

equipped to select products, application methods

and equipment in accordance with label

directions to manage off‐target drift, depending

on each site specific conditions, target species

and type of cropland.

NAWMA would not support any regulatory

definition of "harm" from off‐site drift if the

definition is limited to mere detection, general

vague and open ended without including any

scientifically proven and valid information and

case studies addressing adverse effects.

NAWMA does not support emotional, blanket

driven regulatory direction that does not allow

for site‐specific applications.

NAWMA fully supports scientifically based

regulatory direction within the laws, rules and

regulations already in place.

- Continued from previous page –

2010 International Issues Committee

Report by Sheilah Kennedy

Charlie Brooks

“We are very skeptical about this overly

optimistic timetable,” said Jay Vroom, the

CropLife America president. “Even if things go

smoothly, for the federal government and

individual states to get all this work done well

before April – and then for the regulated

community to have time to get up to speed on

compliance – seems nearly

I would like to thank

the Coloradoans that

hosted the 2010

NAWMA conference.

Good topics, interesting

speakers, and an

extensive tour of the

area along with

phenomenal weather

made for an enjoyable, enlightening conference.

The hotel and meal accommodations were

outstanding also.

impossible

to

achieve.”

Vroom, whose members produce and sell most of

the crop protection and biotechnology products

used in the U.S., said EPA might not be up against

the April 2011 court‐imposed deadline if it had

been willing to fight harder to defend its previous

position that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide

and Rodenticide Act was the governing document

for pesticide use.

“Never in the 62 years of FIFRA nor 38 years of

the Clean Water Act has the federal government

required a permit to apply pesticides “to, over or

near” waters of the U.S. for control of such pests

as mosquitoes, forest canopy insects, algae, or

invasive aquatic weeds and animals, like Zebra

mussel,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, Congress specifically omitted

pesticides in 1972 when it enacted the CWA, and

despite major rewrites since, never looked

beyond FIFRA for the regulation of the regular,

label‐approved uses of pesticides.”

That is, until last year when the U.S. 6th Circuit

Court of Appeals overturned EPA’s 2006 rule

which specifically exempted from the Clean

Water Act, NPDES permitting of aquatic pesticide

applications.

“Agriculture and the rest of the pesticide user

community are still baffled by the federal

government’s choice not to more rigorously

defend the 2006 rule,” said Vroom in testimony

delivered on Sept. 23.

“CropLife America believes the 6th Circuit got it

wrong, and EPA should have done more to defend

its previous rule.”

Keynote speaker, Terry Witt, set the conference

up with the statement “Perception is Reality” and

I think we all can understand and witness this

when we see news articles, reporting, and

environmental views that slant the topics to

influence the general public.

Sandra McDonald from Mountain West

P.E.S.T. gave us a scare and something to think

about with her presentation detailing how the

EPA was sued to exclude the FIFRA label by

requiring NPDES permitting when using

pesticides around riparian sites, “Waters of the

State”. The failure of the U.S. government to

appeal this decision shows how environmentalists

can influence laws without changing them in

Congress. Has the court system run amuck?

On the weed front: Yellow Starthistle is a plant

that definitely needs EDRR. Saltcedar is also a

problem along some of their streams and rivers,

as we in Nebraska already understand.

I would end by asking any of the attendees of the

2011 conference to come early and participate in

the committee meetings where your comments

and input are received in an informal group

setting. If you didn’t have an opportunity to sign

up for the various committees you can access

them on our website and still sign up by

contacting any of the directors.

Aaron Foster

This is what NAWMA conference is all about! Bringing the

international issues that affect every one of us as weed managers

to the membership’s attention where we as NAWMA members

collaborate with each other as a collective voice where it

counts. Whether these issues are updating mapping standards,

prevention awareness, plants of concern and how they might

affect you, or education of our governing bodies of the real on

the ground threats invasive species pose and how legislation can

not only assist us in our responsibilities, but also hinder.

One weakness as an association that relies so faithfully on

our membership’s influence is our committees. The committees are the gears that drive

what NAWMA can accomplish. I encourage all members to sign up on a committee or

even all the committees. All it takes is a quick contact with a committee chair and a

means of continued communication. Share your thoughts and ideas not just at

conference, but also throughout the year. Your opinions will give you ownership of this

association.

__________________________________________________

NAWMA Membership Committee Report

Current NAWMA Membership is 266, which is up one from 2009, and up six from 2008.

However, US membership dropped from 232 in 2008 and 231 in 2009 to 228 in 2010.

Canadian membership has risen from 27 to 38 between 2008 and 2010.

In 2010 I represented NAWMA at the Wyoming Weed Control Associations

annual conference in Casper where I displayed the NAWMA booth, handed out

brochures, and was available for question. There were approximately 200 people at

this conference. I gave a NAWMA report to the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council,

Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, and Jackson Hole Weed Management

Association promoting NAWMA and encouraging membership.

Currently NAWMA board members are working with HHC in promoting NAWMA

with other HHC contributors in attempt to gain membership.

More work is needed to curb the downward U.S. membership trend.

_____________________________________________

NAWMA Personal Improvement Committee Report

I (Aaron Foster) am currently looking into the potential of online correspondence

for graduate school in the fields related to weed management. I have discussed the

need for a graduate program for professionals who wish to further their education and

value, but cannot afford to leave their current employment to pursue further

education. Kansas State University has an Entomology program, but it is difficult to work

out across state ines. Colorado State University has a Range program. I am

brainstorming a similar scenario with the University of Wyoming. My goal would be to

understand and gather all these resources for NAWMA members to utilize.

2010 NAWMA Mapping Committee Meeting

Present at the meeting were Co-chairman – Jeff Vogel, Program co-coordinator –

Kevin Jones, Jim Hansen, Justin Lohr, Rita Beard, Aaron Foster, Ronda

Cauffman, Vince Thomas and Jeffrey Pettingill.

Topics of Discussion:

Kevin Jones will assume some of the duties of program coordinator from Kim

Johnson.

An abbreviated version of the standards – A summary version of the standards

was handed out and discussed. After a few more corrections, the summary will

be posted on the NAWMA Mapping Committee webpage. www.nawma.org

Revising the Mapping Standards – Rita Beard discussed the possibility of

updating the mapping standards. Possible revisions could include the addition

of a GIS standard, survey standard, mobile application standard, and updating

some of the field definitions. We will look at helping organize the effort to

identify stakeholders through the National Invasive Species Council and

spearhead the effort to review the standards.

Field Tour in Colorful Colorado

Shari Maul ‐ CMIP Program Coordinator

Certified Managers of Invasive Plants is a voluntary North American

certification program, which provides recognition of professional and

technical competency. This program was developed in the spring of

2004 and the first tests were taken at the 2004 NAWMA Conference.

There are organizations nationally and internationally that have chosen

to make the certification a job‐related requirement for employment,

promotion and training. This program is sponsored by NAWMA in

cooperation with Central Community College, Hastings, Nebraska and

Shari Maul is the coordinator.

After the initial certification, each person is required to complete 30 hours of CEU’s over a

three‐year period to maintain his or her recertification. CEU’s are updated as they are

completed. Any person, state or organization must complete the CEU Training Approval Form

and send it to me for approval before the actual training is held. At the training, a facilitator

will have a roster that must be signed for verification of the training and returned to me upon

completion.

The recertification deadline for CEU’s has been changed but will not have an affect on anyone

already certified. We will start as of July 1, 2011 and end June 30, 2012 and follow each

consecutive year after that. This gives all persons, states and organizations time to utilize the

training available for them throughout the fall and spring. It will also simplify billing and /or

mailing procedures.

We have had a few glitches with the CMIP website and it will become more user friendly in

the near future. The CEU’s are updated on the website every three months when there are

changes and/or additions. Persons who do not recertify within the required time period after

notification will be removed from the list and must retake the test to regain their

certification.

Upcoming trainings that will offer CEU’s and CMIP testing are as follows:

Wyoming—November 2010

Alberta Canada—November 29, 2010

Nebraska Weed Control Association Conference—February 14, 2011 Kearney NE

Kansas Conference—March 2011

2011 NAWMA Conference—September 19, 2011 in Winnipeg

These dates will be confirmed on the NAWMA website. www.nawma.org

Patricia Rawlek - Canadian Report - The Canadian pesticide

industry is being faced with some tough challenges. In Canada, 154 municipalities

and the entire provinces of Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick have now placed

restrictions on the cosmetic use of synthetic lawn pesticides as a result of health and

environmental concerns. According to one report on thestar.com “Ontario is joining

Quebec in restricting the use of pesticides, but its rules go further by prohibiting the

sale and cosmetic use of more than 80 ingredients and 250 products, with few

exceptions”. Both Ontario and Quebec have banned 2,4‐D even though it has been

deemed safe by Health Canada – a move that sparked a NAFTA challenge of Quebec's

ban. Environmentalist groups, such as the David Suzuki Foundation and the

organization “Pesticide Free BC” dismiss reports from both the scientific community

and Health Canada supporting the safety of pesticides when used according to label guidance lines. These

groups state that there is a lack of scientific certainty and that this lack of certainty cannot be an excuse in

delaying action to protect health and the environment and restrictions to protect the environment and public

health need to be enacted. Other organizations such as the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the

Canadian Cancer Society have also jumped on the “pesticide free” bandwagon citing that the long‐term

effects of pesticide exposure can be devastating, especially to pregnant women and children.

In late 2009/early 2010, to combat these moves against the pesticide industry, Jeffrey Lowes with MREP

Communications in Kingston, Ontario filed fraud charges against a number of Ontario Government ministry

members including the Minister of Environment. Lowes claimed that staff breached federal regulations

governing pesticide use by enacting a provincial system that is not based on rigorous scientific methods. The

ban cost the industry approximately $300 million in lost revenue in 2009. Lowes started the private

prosecution to highlight the failings of Ontario's system and is quoted as saying "It just shows that the

system that's currently in place in Ontario violates the existing federal laws so the province is going to have

to go back to the drawing board and come up with a science‐based regulatory system." At least one

chemical, the organic substance, azadirachtin, is listed by the province as legal for use by lawn care firms but

cannot be used, according to the federal law.

As of yet, no court dates have been finalized for a hearing. The Canadian pesticide industries, and several

Canadian urban municipalities, wait to see the outcome of Mr. Lowes efforts. Whether he wins or loses, the

industry will be changed for the good.

Canadians Attending the Annual Conference in Pueblo

Mark Cardinal – NAWMA President-Elect

Congratulations to Colorado and particularly Fred Raish

and Larry Walker on a very informative Conference.

Considering the financial constraints everyone is under

the Conference was well attended.

It was nice to see a wider range of topics than we

typically see. I think we sometimes forget that our

membership covers a vast area and as a result our

agenda sometime tends to be more local than global.

EDRR seems to be gaining momentum; the committee would like to see a

representative from every state/province on the committee to help it move forward. It

was nice to hear from Tracee Bentley on the progress of HHC. I think this is a great

program and at the end of the day will do great things for NAWMA.

The trade show set up was excellent and I heard nothing but good from the company

representatives. Having everything happen in and around the booths is a great way to

promote participation.

I found the Degelman Industries booth and mower very interesting (maybe because

Parkland County has two of them). This type of equipment gives everyone another

option on how we do weed control. The two mowers with the liquifire system that we

have continue to make our program more palatable to our ratepayers.

I found the field tours very interesting. It gives you a whole different perspective on

what people have to deal with and it also gives you a real life view of the species they

are trying to control.

2010

Sustaining

Members

Platinum - $1,000 +

Nebraska Weed Control – Dow AgroSciences – DuPont – CPS Timberland

Degelman Industries

Gold - $500.00

County Weed Directors Assoc. of Kansas – Wyoming Weed & Pest Council

Becker Underwood

Silver - $250.00

De Angelo Brothers Inc. – Monsanto

Bronze - $100.00

Amenity Contract Services Ltd. (UK) - Becker Underwood - Arizona Crop Improvement Assoc.

Iowa Weed Commissioners Assoc - Indiana Crop Improvement Assoc - Premier Weed Man. & Consulting

Teton County Weed & Pest - Mountain View Resources - Colorado County Weed Supervisors Assoc.

Wisconsin Crop Improvement Assoc. - Sturgeon County - Industry Task Force - Minnesota Crop

Improvement - PBI/Gordon - City of Calgary - Colorado Weed Management Assoc. – LiphaTech

HydroStraw – Alberta Invasive Plants Council – Ohio Seed Improvement Assoc.

Van Diest Supply - Motomco

If you would like to become a Sustaining Member or a NAWMA Member please contact

Mike J. Friesen at PO Box 687, Meade KS 67864 – 620-873-8730 (or) Download the

Membership Form at: http://www.nawma.org

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