Weed Management

Published: 2019
By Jessica Murray

Preventing invasive weeds from spreading around Beaverhead County is important for recreational and aesthetic purposes but also for wildlife habitat, livestock production, and farming. Montana State University created an educational program that promotes the proper use of pesticides and coordinates the Montana Private Applicator Training program. This private applicator program works to license and train individuals who apply Restricted Use Pesticides to certain classes of land. This year, in conjunction with the Beaverhead County Weed District, Montana State University Extension offered eight opportunities for recertification credits in Lima, Dillon, and Wisdom as well as licensing three new private applicators. The 4-H program in the county works every year to involve youth in weed management by attending the Beaverhead County Weed Day. Each year the 4-H members travel on a Saturday in July to Bannack State Park or the Beaverhead River to remove noxious weeds. Each member is given a colored tape to mark bags of weeds pulled, and at the end of the day the member with the most bags wins a prize. This year, members traveled down 12 miles of the Beaverhead River and collected 20 industrial garbage bags of weeds. Beaverhead County MSU Extension annually supports the Weed Whacker’s Ball, whose mission is to fundraise money to eliminate noxious weeds along the Big Hole River. This event is comprised of a silent and live auction of donated items, banquet, live entertainment, and community support. This year, over $15,000 was raised and will fund the noxious weed management efforts in the Big Hole Basin Cooperative Weed Management Area in 2020.