List of Upcoming Events and Products

Most Recent Ag News Article

May 14, 2025 - From Fields to Frontlines

Fight back against invasive weeds that threaten productivity and native foliage.

Springtime is here, the geese are back, the ice is melting away, the sun is shining, and while all this sounds blissful, there is a battle cry commencing the wild weed season ahead. The war on weeds never ends and any effort put forth by Clearwater County residents makes a noticeable and appreciated difference. As most residents of the county know, when left unchallenged, invasive species expand rapidly, consuming large tracts of land for their monocultures. Invasive plant species choke out any competition from native species who, unfortunately, cannot keep up most of the time.

Locally throughout Clearwater County, the top three convicts are Tall Buttercup, Wild Caraway and Oxeye Daisy. These three are prevalent in all areas of the county, although Wild Caraway is predominantly found in the south. Under the authority of the Provincial Weed Act, invasive species are designated as either noxious or prohibited noxious. Sometimes people will mistake the designation as “obnoxious” and while these plants are obnoxious, the term is noxious. 

By law, noxious weeds are required to be controlled by landowners while prohibited noxious weeds must be eradicated completely. With this, Clearwater County Agriculture and Community Services is committed to assisting residents and landowners in their efforts to combat weed infestations by providing a variety of options and services at minimal to no charge.

To make control options within reach, Clearwater County Agriculture and Community Services sells competitively priced herbicides for use of acreage owners and agriculture producers. Additionally offered is a line of spray equipment from backpacks to ATV sprayers, and even community sprayers free of charge throughout the county.

In addition to the multitude of options available to combat infestations, seasonal staff have been hired to facilitate the weed control process. Three new faces have been brought on to control the three main divisions within the county – Dakota Dickson as the North Weed and Pest Technician, Kassidy McDonald as the Central Weed and Pest Technician, and Kaycee McKenzie as the Community Weed and Pest Technician. 

Leah Sulek has come back for her fourth year with the county and will be handling the Eradicable Weeds Program and Danielle Judd has returned for her second year to continue to be our South Weed and Pest Technician.

Agriculture and Community Services continues to sponsor the Eradicable Weeds Program with the belief that some invasive species are low enough in infestations that it is possible to completely eradicate them from our county. Another bonus of this program is that it comes at no cost to the landowner and has proven very successful with residents having identified the burdens themselves for us to fight. 

A huge aspect of weed management is knowing what you’re looking at and being able to identify a real intruder and one that belongs. Luckily, as an effort to educate and bring awareness to weed identification and management, Clearwater County’s Agriculture and Community Services hold Weed Workshops. These workshops were held May 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Caroline Community Hub and again May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Condor Community Hall. 

These Weed Workshops are designed to help educate and familiarize landowners of all kinds with the proper management methods, while battling invasive species. Additionally, the workshops are free to attend, a meal is provided and guarantees a 10 per cent discount on range and pasture herbicides sold by the county. 

We are caretakers of the land, playing a pivotal role in the health and betterment of tomorrow. Our role in dealing with invasive species matters – to the environment, to our lands, and to our neighbours. The decisions we make today may just be the difference needed for tomorrow and the future generations to come.