Weed Seed Free Feed
by Jeanne Koester, Director, Northeast Chapter BCHW
In 2007 it became rule of law in Washington State that state-certified weed free forage must be used at all wilderness trails and trailheads in designated wilderness areas within Region 6. This region includes Washington, Oregon, and a section of Idaho. In 2009 this rule of law will include all National Forest System lands in Region 6, and no doubt will soon become a requirement on all public lands.Equestrians will want to abide by the weed free forage ruling because it is good stewardship as well as being the law. There are also significant financial penalties if you are ticketed for not having your weed free certificate on hand when requested by USFS personnel. However, this ruling has presented us with a challenge because, at this time, there is not a statewide program for producing and certifying feed that is weed seed free.
Above: Spotted Knapweed
Photo by: Cindy Roche, Bugwood.org
To date, only Pend Oreille County along the northern Washington/Idaho border has established a certification process, with the county weed board as the inspecting and certifying agency. Twenty-five other counties have expressed interest in developing a weed seed free certification program over the last several months.
The North American Weed Management Association has boilerplate documents and information that can be used as a model for any county weed board or hay grower wanting to upgrade product and comply with these regulations. Unfortunately, there is as yet no specific agency to run the certification process, and the steps for a certification program are not in place.
Some areas of Idaho have qualified inspectors to certify weed free hay, but they are so few in number, and the time frame from flower to seed-head development can occur so rapidly, that fields awaiting certification do not qualify because weed seeds have begun to develop by the time the inspector arrives. Specialist contractors who are qualified to do the certification are often prohibitively expensive, overbooked, or otherwise unavailable.
The Farmer's Perspective
Much of the hay grown in Washington State is headed for the export market, and some hay growers are reluctant to develop a specific category of feed that is certified as weed free because of the implication that uncertified product must be weedy and of lesser quality, which is generally not the case. Most healthy, crop-producing fields are largely weed free, and no self-respecting farmer wants to grow weeds or lose production space to weeds. The Washington State Hay Growers Association has expressed willingness to explore the development of this product, but proposed using the label "Wilderness Certified Forage."
Backcountry Horsemen of Washington and the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board have also been contacted by hay growers who are willing to certify their crops. Many equestrians are willing to buy a certified product year round, not just when they are heading out to ride or work in regulated territory. A proposal was made by one organization that backcountry equestrians should guarantee purchase of a specific amount of weed free forage annually in order to get that amount grown and available in Washington; however, this sort of economic barter for a niche market is not in the best interests of responsible stewardship, which is the driving force behind noxious weed control efforts nationwide.
Why Weed Seed Free?
The purpose of enacting the weed seed free forage rule is to reduce and eradicate invasive and noxious plant species and to respond aggressively to habitat restoration. The more individual users, groups, organizations, and governmental entities unite to reduce and eradicate weeds, the better the success rate will be. Nationally, we are faced with a serious threat to native habitat and wildlife forage.
· The U.S. has about 2,000 non-native species growing with “significant escalation.”[1]
· In four states--Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota--$144 million is spent annually on spurge control alone.
· Noxious weeds reduce crop yield and each year cost farmers time, labor, and money to control.
· Noxious weeds destroy plant and animal habitat, reduce biodiversity, and threaten rare plants with extinction.
· By displacing native habitat, non-native plants reduce wildlife forage and in some cases, change physical and chemical properties of the environment so native species can no longer grow.
· Noxious weed spread not only eliminates native habitat and wildlife forage, it contributes to the threat posed by forest fires in that some invasive species such as cheat grass burn more readily than native species.
Most equestrians are committed to responsible wild land stewardship and value opportunities to work and play on public lands. At this time we do not know how we will continue to do either in places where weed seed free forage is required.
Currently, one equestrian organization has a grant to repair and maintain trails in Washington State National Forests; however, neither forest service personnel nor the organization have the required weed seed free forage to enable them to feed their horses on site. Hike-in volunteers are invaluable but simply cannot compete with the amount horses can carry or the distance they can cover.
It makes sense that the certification process would be developed and managed through county weed boards with the individual weed board as the certifying agent. This would be a much faster course of action than any other, since weed board staff won’t require much new information before they can hit the ground running. County weed boards already have knowledge of their own county and a comprehensive understanding of local noxious weed species, thus allowing the most rapid response and cost-effective means for implementing a certification program.
What You Can Do to Help
Contact your hay supplier and ask if they would be willing to certify their hay. If so, the hay grower should contact their state Weed Control Board. Producers of straw or other mulching crop products may also contact their state Weed Control Board about their products.
Educate yourself on this issue. Currently, the State of Washington Department of Agriculture does not have a statewide weed free certification program for hay or crop products. Interested county noxious weed control boards may have employees trained to certify weed free hay and crop products under North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA) standards in March, 2008 for the upcoming growing season. www.nwcb.wa.gov/FAQs/weed-free.htm.
Whether or not you live in Washington, learn to identify what noxious weeds are a problem in your county area and walk your fields with one of the free booklets available from your county extension or weed control board. Hand-pulling in the spring--and for some weeds, again in the fall--can make a difference, as can herbicides and biological controls.
By definition, a noxious weed is highly destructive, competitive or difficult to control, and it is damaging to our economy and our resources. Be informed. Be proactive.
For Further Information:
www.fs.fed.us/r6/weeds Weed-free Feed Required in Northwest Wilderness
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/ Noxious Weed Control Board of Washington (links to county weed boards)
http://www.nawma.org/ North American Weed Management Association
http://elcr.org/resources/R3.html "The Role of Recreational Trail Horse Use In The Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species" by Gene W. Wood
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
An Exotic Invasion of Elk Country by David Stalling
At left: Rush Skeletonweed
The North American Weed Management Association has boilerplate documents and information that can be used as a model for any county weed board or hay grower wanting to upgrade product and comply with these regulations. Unfortunately, there is as yet no specific agency to run the certification process, and the steps for a certification program are not in place.
Some areas of Idaho have qualified inspectors to certify weed free hay, but they are so few in number, and the time frame from flower to seed-head development can occur so rapidly, that fields awaiting certification do not qualify because weed seeds have begun to develop by the time the inspector arrives. Specialist contractors who are qualified to do the certification are often prohibitively expensive, overbooked, or otherwise unavailable.
The Farmer's Perspective
Much of the hay grown in Washington State is headed for the export market, and some hay growers are reluctant to develop a specific category of feed that is certified as weed free because of the implication that uncertified product must be weedy and of lesser quality, which is generally not the case. Most healthy, crop-producing fields are largely weed free, and no self-respecting farmer wants to grow weeds or lose production space to weeds. The Washington State Hay Growers Association has expressed willingness to explore the development of this product, but proposed using the label "Wilderness Certified Forage."
Backcountry Horsemen of Washington and the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board have also been contacted by hay growers who are willing to certify their crops. Many equestrians are willing to buy a certified product year round, not just when they are heading out to ride or work in regulated territory. A proposal was made by one organization that backcountry equestrians should guarantee purchase of a specific amount of weed free forage annually in order to get that amount grown and available in Washington; however, this sort of economic barter for a niche market is not in the best interests of responsible stewardship, which is the driving force behind noxious weed control efforts nationwide.
Why Weed Seed Free?
The purpose of enacting the weed seed free forage rule is to reduce and eradicate invasive and noxious plant species and to respond aggressively to habitat restoration. The more individual users, groups, organizations, and governmental entities unite to reduce and eradicate weeds, the better the success rate will be. Nationally, we are faced with a serious threat to native habitat and wildlife forage.
· The U.S. has about 2,000 non-native species growing with “significant escalation.”[1]
· In four states--Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota--$144 million is spent annually on spurge control alone.
· Noxious weeds reduce crop yield and each year cost farmers time, labor, and money to control.
· Noxious weeds destroy plant and animal habitat, reduce biodiversity, and threaten rare plants with extinction.
· By displacing native habitat, non-native plants reduce wildlife forage and in some cases, change physical and chemical properties of the environment so native species can no longer grow.
· Noxious weed spread not only eliminates native habitat and wildlife forage, it contributes to the threat posed by forest fires in that some invasive species such as cheat grass burn more readily than native species.
Most equestrians are committed to responsible wild land stewardship and value opportunities to work and play on public lands. At this time we do not know how we will continue to do either in places where weed seed free forage is required.
Currently, one equestrian organization has a grant to repair and maintain trails in Washington State National Forests; however, neither forest service personnel nor the organization have the required weed seed free forage to enable them to feed their horses on site. Hike-in volunteers are invaluable but simply cannot compete with the amount horses can carry or the distance they can cover.
It makes sense that the certification process would be developed and managed through county weed boards with the individual weed board as the certifying agent. This would be a much faster course of action than any other, since weed board staff won’t require much new information before they can hit the ground running. County weed boards already have knowledge of their own county and a comprehensive understanding of local noxious weed species, thus allowing the most rapid response and cost-effective means for implementing a certification program.
What You Can Do to Help
Contact your hay supplier and ask if they would be willing to certify their hay. If so, the hay grower should contact their state Weed Control Board. Producers of straw or other mulching crop products may also contact their state Weed Control Board about their products.
Educate yourself on this issue. Currently, the State of Washington Department of Agriculture does not have a statewide weed free certification program for hay or crop products. Interested county noxious weed control boards may have employees trained to certify weed free hay and crop products under North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA) standards in March, 2008 for the upcoming growing season. www.nwcb.wa.gov/FAQs/weed-free.htm.
Whether or not you live in Washington, learn to identify what noxious weeds are a problem in your county area and walk your fields with one of the free booklets available from your county extension or weed control board. Hand-pulling in the spring--and for some weeds, again in the fall--can make a difference, as can herbicides and biological controls.
By definition, a noxious weed is highly destructive, competitive or difficult to control, and it is damaging to our economy and our resources. Be informed. Be proactive.
For Further Information:
www.fs.fed.us/r6/weeds Weed-free Feed Required in Northwest Wilderness
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/ Noxious Weed Control Board of Washington (links to county weed boards)
http://www.nawma.org/ North American Weed Management Association
http://elcr.org/resources/R3.html "The Role of Recreational Trail Horse Use In The Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species" by Gene W. Wood
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
An Exotic Invasion of Elk Country by David Stalling
At left: Rush SkeletonweedPhoto by: Utah State University Archive, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
At Right: Leafy Spurge
Photo by: Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive, MSU, Bugwood.org
Jeanne Koester has served as Director of Back Country Horsemen (BCHW) Chapters in the Olympic Peninsula and NE Washington. Currently, she serves as Executive Assistant to the President of BCHW. When she isn't volunteering on trail crews or writing grants for trails, she is riding backcountry trails.
[1] Mitchell, J.E. 2000, Rangeland resource trends in the United States: A technical document supporting the 2000 USDA Forest Service RPA assessment. RMRS-GTR-68. USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. 84p.
Jeanne Koester has served as Director of Back Country Horsemen (BCHW) Chapters in the Olympic Peninsula and NE Washington. Currently, she serves as Executive Assistant to the President of BCHW. When she isn't volunteering on trail crews or writing grants for trails, she is riding backcountry trails.
[1] Mitchell, J.E. 2000, Rangeland resource trends in the United States: A technical document supporting the 2000 USDA Forest Service RPA assessment. RMRS-GTR-68. USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. 84p.
Labels: Feature Stories, jeanne koester, March 2008
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