With the ongoing drought, opportunistic weeds are expected to pose major challenges to those managing parks and recreational areas, public lands, ranches, farms and landscapes. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with other partners, will present the annual Weed Extravaganza April 28-30 to help Nevadans deal with this year's weed challenges with the latest information available.
"Invasive weeds can out-compete native vegetation, crops and livestock forage," said Natural Resources Extension Specialist Kent McAdoo, the event coordinator. "They can also pose fire hazards, lead to erosion and water quality issues, and impact wildlife habitat. It's important that everyone has the latest information to identify and control these weeds to minimize damage to our lands, wildlife, crops and economy."
The workshop will be offered April 28-30 at the California Trail Interpretive Center, 8 miles west of Elko, Nev. The workshop will include a wide range of topics aimed at giving land managers, ranchers and agricultural producers the latest information on controlling invasive weeds.
The event begins with the Elko County Weed Summit on April 28, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This year's featured speaker is Joe DiTomaso, from University of California, Davis, who will discuss "Managing Medusahead." He will also present an interactive approach to weed identification. There will be various updates on weed regulations, species and mapping from the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Nevada Weed Management Association, Bureau of Land Management and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. McAdoo will host an afternoon field trip demonstrating how to identify weeds during their vulnerable growth stages.
As part of the Weed Extravaganza, the Pesticide Applicator Training/Weed Identification and Management Workshop will be offered the next day, April 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This workshop is tailored for those seeking restricted-use pesticide certification. Topics will include weed identification and management, a rodenticide update, pesticide regulations, recordkeeping and equipment calibration, and worker protection.
The April 28 and 29 workshops are free, and participants can earn up to 14 Continuing Education Units. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to Candie Kevan at kevanc@unce.unr.edu or 775-738-7291 by April 23 so that complimentary lunches can be provided for all participants that day. Certification exams will be conducted by Nevada Department of Agriculture at 7:15 a.m., April 30. The exam fee is $50 at the door. Nevada Pesticide Applicator Training Manual sets may be obtained for $15 at Cooperative Extension offices, or free online, at .
The California Trail Interpretive Center is located just off I-80, at Hunter Exit 292, 8 miles west of Elko, Nev. The Weed Extravaganza is sponsored by the Elko County Association of Conservation Districts, Humboldt Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area, Nevada Department of Agriculture and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should call at least three days prior to the event. For more information, call 775-738-7291.
For more information on responding to various drought-related challenges, go to the Living With Drought website, .
