Washakie County hosting state Weed and Pest conference

WORLAND – The Washakie County Weed and Pest District will host the 2016 Spring Weed and Pest Workshop April 5-7 at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center. The conference brings together weed and pest districts from 23 counties to discuss weed and pest management, and review state and national land priorities from government officials and educators.

“This is really the first time Worland has been able to host the annual meeting,” said Jarrod Glanz, manager of the Washakie Weed and Pest District. “With the museum’s conference room and Worland’s available motels, we finally have the space [to host].”

During the three-day event, district delegates will hear from presenters from the Washakie County Commission, the University of Wyoming, the Bureau of Land Management, the University of Nebraska, Bayer Inc., and the Washakie County Extension Office.

Topics highlighted at the conference include weed and pest identification, crop and native grass management, Wyoming soils and retention, state lands priorities, legislative actions and budget concerns. In addition, the conference will feature a silent auction and dinner on Wednesday evening.

The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council was formed to provide coordination and leadership in the fight against designated and declared noxious weeds and pests and invasive species across the state. The Council works closely with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and the University of Wyoming to keep current with the latest technology and research available in the ongoing management of noxious weeds and pests.

Committees within the Weed and Pest Council coordinate the funding and research for new biological control agents, develops partnerships with pipelines and railroads across the state, coordinates educational activities, outreach, and public relations across the state as well as providing educational opportunities for District employees, tracks new invasive species that threaten public and private lands and coordinates the Council’s position on a variety of state and federal legislation.