The San Miguel and Montrose County Weed Control Programs received word this week that several grants for control of weeds on private land on Wright’s Mesa have been received.  Funding for control of whitetop (also known as hoary cress), Russian knapweed and sulfur cinquefoil is available to agricultural producers through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) program.  Funding for whitetop control has been received through the Division of Wildlife’s HPP (Habitat Partnership Program) and also through both county weed control programs.  In addition a Conservation District grant was received earlier for the control of sulfur cinquefoil, Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program a new invasive weed first discovered in the area in 2007. 

More than 100 recipients of a formal survey sent to area landowners in 2008 responded, with the majority indicating that whitetop was a concern, and that cost was a primary reason for not dealing with the problem. Soon the two counties were working together to substantially reduce the cost of controlling this widespread invader.  

Tonight (April 2), at 6:30 p.m., a meeting will be held at the Log Cabin in Norwood to discuss identification, control options and funding for whitetop-control projects.  Landowners from across the area are encouraged to attend.  Cost share applications and other information will be available. San Miguel and Montrose county weed managers, Jim Boyd with the NRCS and Yvette Henson from CSU Extension will be available to answer questions and share information.  

Whitetop is best controlled during the fast-approaching spring growing season (lasting generally from late April through early June). Seeds from this creeping perennial weed that spreads both by roots and seeds may be present in hay cut from infested land – a problem that has increased the population of whitetop on Wright’s Mesa and beyond.  For more information please contact the San Miguel County (970/327-0399) or Montrose County Weed Control Programs (970/249-5216).