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Prairie County

MSU Extension helps landowners with invasive pest management

Published: 2020
By Sharla Sackman
The noxious weed houndstongue has become an increasing problem in Prairie County due to the easy nature of seed spread via wildlife and livestock. MSU Extension wrote a Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant to aid private landowners, public land agencies, and the Prairie County Weed District in coming together to educate producers about houndstongue management as well as implement a concerted effort to reduce spread of the weed. In the fourth year of the Prairie County Houndstongue project, the Weed District has reported success with control efforts utilizing recommended herbicides. Since 2017, 12 landowners plus three commercial contractors applied recommended herbicides to 405 acres of houndstongue and 243 acres of Canada thistle. By applying for a NWTF grant, Extension helped landowners and the Prairie County Weed District secure $16,667 in grant funding to cost share herbicide and commercial application costs.
Landscape of the Prairie County Houndstongue Project Cooperative Weed Management Area