County to start spraying herbicide on roadsides

Yellowhead County’s Agricultural Services will be spraying roadsides within the county starting in April until mid/late September, depending on weather.

Spot herbicide applications and other integrated management practices will be used throughout the County to control weeds and brush species starting this April.

Spraying of roadsides is done to control the spread of prohibited noxious and noxious weeds and re-growth of small brush. Most weed species are very prolific seed producers and can produce as many as 300,000 seeds per plant. These seeds can then germinate the following growing season or lay dormant in the soil for a number of years until growing conditions are favorable for germination. Many deep rooted perennials spread via the root system, therefore a single plant left alone can result in a heavy infestation in a relatively short period of time.

Weed infestations can invade and become the dominant plant species on any given parcel of land causing a number of problems such as:

• They limit light and moisture availability to cereal and hay crops thus reducing yields and resulting in dockage.

• They pose a serious environmental threat to native vegetation and habitats in sensitive areas because of their competitive nature.

• They are expensive to control for adjacent land owners who are subject to their spread.

• They are responsible for livestock poisoning.

• They can pose a serious fire hazards.

• They obstruct visibility along roadsides and intersections Brush left to grow along roadsides also poses various problems:

• The obstruction of visibility along roadsides and intersections creating a situation which allows wildlife to jump onto the roadway unseen.

• Roads tend to retain moisture longer requiring more maintenance.

• They can pose a serious fire hazard. • Creates snow removal and dust trap problems.

The herbicides which will be used this upcoming season include; Lontrel – PCP #23545, Escort – PCP # 23005, ClearView – PCP #29752, Transline – PCP #24085, Vantage XRT – PCP #29994, Banvel VM – PCP #29249, Arsenal – PCP #23713, Arsenal Powerline – PCP #30203, Garlon RTU – PCP #29334, Garlon XRT – PCP #28945, Tordon 101 – PCP #9007, Tordon 22K – PCP #9005, 2,4-D Amine - PCP#14726, Milestone – PCP #28517, Navius – PCP #31382, Esplanade – PCP #31333, VP480 – PCP #28840. These products are best suited for Yellowhead County’s Vegetation Management Plan. Some of these herbicides have residual characteristics so ratepayers should not be using roadside soil in their gardens.

If you have any concerns or questions please contact the Agricultural Services Department at 1-800-814-3935 or (780) 325-3782.