Noxious
A noxious weed is a plant species that has been designated by the province as one that is injurious to agricultural crops, natural habitats, ecosystems, humans and/or livestock. Municipalities are able to elevate species to noxious if plants are deemed to be an issue. Most noxious weeds are an introduced species (non‐native). Noxious weeds grow aggressively, multiply quickly and adversely affect native habitats, croplands, and/or are injurious to humans and livestock through contact or ingestion.
Under the Weed Control Act, persons shall control Noxious weeds that are on the land the person owns or occupies.
Prohibited Noxious
Prohibited Noxious weeds are invasive and pose an economical threat and must be destroyed.
Under the Weed Control Act, persons shall destroy Prohibited Noxious weeds that are on land the person owns or occupied. All Prohibited Noxious weeds found will be handled under Clearwater County’s eradicable weed program.
Eradicable
Eradicable weeds are in such low numbers throughout Clearwater County we believe eradicating them within the county is possible.
Weeds designated by Clearwater County Agricultural Services as eradicable are sprayed, surveyed and revisited at no charge to the landowner. Residents are encouraged to report infestations as no cost will be incurred and weed issues will be dealt with in a professional and effective manner.
Weed Extension Program
Agricultural Services provides the Weed Extension program to producers and landowners of Clearwater County to help protect land from degradation and loss of production due to the spread and establishment of invasive plants. The Weed Extension program focuses on education and awareness to engage and empower producers and landowners to take ownership of their specific weed problem and to foster internal motivation in implementing a yearly weed control plan.
Primary Goal: To ensure individual weed infestations do not impact neighbouring properties.
Weed extension coordinators work directly with producers and landowners to create and implement short and long term weed control plans, as well as protecting themselves from future establishing invasive plants.
Agricultural Services garners a high percentage of voluntary compliance through our Weed Extension Program, focusing on education and awareness. In cases where voluntary compliance can not be reached, Agricultural Services is obligated to harness the continued spread of invasive plants under the authority of the Provincial Weed Control Act.
In cases of non-compliance, the Agricultural Service Board approves staff to issue notices. These notices outline the weed control expectations, as well as the time frame to meet those expectations. Should this notice expire with no acceptable level of control achieved, access to the land is granted by the notice for staff to control weeds and expenses incurred will be added to the landowner's taxes. This compliance tool is utilized as a last resort when all extension avenues have been exhausted.
Be sure to check out the weed species information available on this website, and contact Agricultural Services to discuss weed control and prevention on your property.
Eradicable Weeds Program
Though there are a few invasive plants that are well established within Clearwater County (most notably Tall Buttercup and Wild Caraway), there are many extremely threatening species not found in Clearwater County that are found in neighbouring municipalities and other parts of Alberta. To stop these species from becoming widespread in Clearwater County, the Eradicable Weeds program was launched.
The program is intended to foster voluntary reporting of new and emerging weeds, or those present in Clearwater County in very small infestations, to facilitate eradication and prevent further spread. Weeds can be reported by contacting Agriculture and Community Services at 403-845-4444.
Species on the Eradicable Weeds list are located, controlled, documented and monitored by staff at no cost to the landowner.
Policy:
- The Board will establish a list of species for the Eradicable Weeds Program each spring.
- Staff will record weed site information data in the Weed Data Base with particular attention to size, age and growth stage of infestation.
- Staff will inspect all sites on record annually and design an effective eradication program.
- Staff will present an Annual Report on this program which will guide the Board in establishing the list of species included in the program.
- Clearwater County will absorb all costs associated with the eradication.
Click here for a listing of Clearwater County's Eradicable Weeds
Community Weed Control
The Agricultural Services Board (ASB) and staff are always looking for new ways to better implement our Weed Extension programs, while focusing on education, awareness, and community buy in of weed control.
During the spring of 2010, Agricultural Services piloted a new weed control concept called the Priority Area Weed Compliance system or P.A.W.C. This concept established an area where the community had stated that they wanted to see a consistent and effective approach to controlling a particular weed species. The community drives this process with Agricultural Services administering the program within the P.A.W.C area. Should individual landowners not comply with the communities desire for consist weed control, Agricultural Services will access the land and complete the weed control to the standard established by the community, recouping the control cost. This community-based approach to weed control has proven very effective within other jurisdictions.
P.A.W.C has since be rebranded as Community Weed Control (CWC).
Clearwater County has three separate and distinct CWC areas. County Council has been highly supportive of communities that are interested in working together as a group to deal with invasive species.
With the inclusion of a new community driven approach to weed control in the Everdell area, along with the Ricinus community (added in 2012), the total area involved in community projects has increased from the original 20,480 acres to 46,080 acres.
The First Priority Area Weed Compliance project (PAWC), initiated in the Arbutus/Alhambra area has now successfully completed its seventh year while the Ricinus CWC area has completed its fourth year.
Objectives of Community Weed Control Areas
All of the areas operate differently and are administered with input from the communities based on locally determined standards and expectations. The overriding objectives for all community groups remain the same:
- Marked increase of cooperation with neighbours
- More landowners are working towards eradication
- Increased ownership of weeds
- Community to work closely with Ag Services staff
Range and Pasture Spraying
To meet the unique needs of landowners within Clearwater County, the Agricultural Service Board (ASB) provides custom herbicide application to control noxious weeds on range and pasture land. Because invasive plants like Tall Buttercup and Wild Caraway thrive in rough, low and difficult terrain the Agricultural Services department has built specialized equipment to tackle these difficult jobs.
Whether hummocks, low land, rough terrain or hills on farms or acreages, our specialized equipment and trained applicators will effectively control noxious weeds invading your pastures and rangeland. Our rates are $115 per hour (herbicide not included), averaging 7-13 acres per hour, depending on terrain. Our pull type or 3pt hitch, tractor driven, G.P.S guided boom-less sprayers are tailored and custom made for Clearwater County.
Clearwater County also retails a wide selection of the most effective range and pasture herbicides on the market. One of our Weed Extension Coordinators can work with you to select the best herbicide for your situation. We also rent large, medium and small, sprayers that allow landowners to easily and effectively apply herbicide to their own land. If you are interested in seeing our equipment and the effectiveness of range and pasture herbicides, want to save money on range and pasture herbicides and the application then watch for our weed workshops each Spring. All landowners in Clearwater County who choose to participate in this workshop will receive 10% off all range and pasture herbicides and custom application. If you have questions about weeds, want to rent weed control equipment, purchase a range and pasture herbicide or are interested in range and pasture spraying, please contact our Weed Extension Staff at 403-845-4444.
Certified Weed Free Forage
Through the Alberta Certified Weed Free Forage Program, producers can have their forage inspected and certified as weed free.
Clearwater County Agriculture and Community Services offers this program to local producers. Weed free forage is certified according to the minimum certification standards of the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA).
How is forage certified weed free?
An inspector walks through the field and forage storage area to identify the plant species that are present.
After the inspection is complete, crops must be cut within 10 days. Another inspection will need to take place if the 10-day period passes without cutting the forage. Weed free forage must be transported separately from non-certified weed free forage.
Certified Weed Free Forage is distinguished by specialized twine of a specific colour/pattern. Twine is only available to purchase once certified.
Why have your forage certified weed free?
Certified Weed Free Forage reduces the spread of noxious weeds. Invasives, including noxious weeds, are detrimental to the environment as they take over natural areas, decrease biodiversity and reduce food and habitat for wildlife. Contaminated hay is one way invasives spread.
By certifying forage as weed free, producers can ensure they're providing a premium product and increase the price they charge per bale. Premium Product = Premium Profit.
Forage buyers who choose weed free forage are stopping the spread of noxious weeds onto their property.
Under the Weed Control Act, Section 5 states that a person shall not deposit, or permit to be deposited, noxious weed seeds or prohibited noxious weed seeds where they might spread.
Who can access the program?
The Alberta Certified Weed Free Forage Program is available at no cost to any producer with a forage crop.
Under the program, the entire crop does not need to be weed free. Inspectors can designate specific areas as weed free, which must be harvested before areas that are not "certified weed free."
How can I get inspected?
To have a certified weed inspector certify your forage as weed free, contact Clearwater County Agriculture and Community Services at 403-845-4444.
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