June 9, 2022

Montana Noxious Weed

Awareness Week - June 9

There are many ways to control weeds, but not all methods work on all weeds!

There is no one silver bullet when it comes to management of noxious weeds. A combination of methods usually works best.

Learn about integrated weed management and contact your local county weed coordinator or MSU Extension Agent for more information and help.

Did you know. . . .

• Some weed seeds survive the digestive systems of goats and sheep?
• You can mow knapweed for control, but timing is very important. Mow at the wrong time and eventually the plant will only grow tall enough to exist under the mower deck?
• Don’t pull noxious weeds with an extensive or rhizomatous root system  -- it is ineffective and a waste of time & labor.

Learn to identify invasive grasses

Today's Weed - Ventenata

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Ventenata was first discovered in the US in Washington and Idaho in the 1950's. It was documented in Montana in the early 1990's and is spreading rapidly.

Ventenata is native to southern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. There are 5 known species of Ventenata, however only V. dubia has been documented on the North American continent.

Ventenata is beginning to replace perennial grasses and forbs along roadsides and in hay, pasture, range and CRP fields in the western U.S. In addition to having minimal
forage value for livestock or wildlife, ventenata is also undesirable because its shallow root system may cause the soil to be more prone to erosion.

Learn more about Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) here.