MSU Extension helps landowners with invasive pest management

Published: 2022
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 Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) grants in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 to aid private landowners, public land agencies, and the Prairie County Weed District in providing education to producers about houndstongue management as well as implementing a coordinated effort to reduce the spread of the weed. In the sixth 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 570 acres of houndstongue and 280 acres of Canada thistle. By applying for an NWTF grant, MSU Extension helped landowners and the Prairie County Weed District secure $43,667 in grant funding to share herbicide and commercial application costs.