Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Invasive Weeds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheridan County candidates stress drones, grants and long‑term funding to fight invasive grasses
Summary
At a Dec. 10 special meeting, Weed and Pest Board candidates highlighted Ventenata and Medusahead control, recommended survey drones, and warned that one‑time state funding requests are not a long‑term solution; callers cited specific cost examples and NRCS limits.
Sheridan County commissioners on Dec. 10 interviewed applicants for the Sheridan County Weed and Pest Control District, with candidates emphasizing expanded mapping and treatment of invasive annual grasses, stronger outreach and sustained funding.
Dan (identified in the meeting by his first name) described hands‑on spray work on leased ranch properties and cited work against Ventenata, leafy spurge, thistles and Medusahead. He said the county needs more education for landowners about operational changes (rotations and management) to make spray programs effective and warned that "you can just throw a lot of money at it" without accompanying management changes.
Commissioner Wright and others raised the possibility of acquiring a survey drone to map infestations. Dan supported the survey drone as a cost‑effective alternative to helicopter surveys and said it would help locate inaccessible infestations. Commissioners noted spray drones are available but substantially more expensive than survey drones; one commissioner said a survey drone can cover about 40 acres in roughly an hour.
On funding, candidates and commissioners discussed state and federal funding realities. Dan referenced a recent state request for an additional $11,000,000 for invasive‑grass work and said that amount "is not even enough" as a one‑time infusion; he also cited reaching an NRCS $450,000 contract limit under a 2018 Farm Bill agreement on a single spraying project. Dan said a full contract to spray one leased property (the Horseshoe) could cost over $300,000. Incumbent board member Nate Kane (joined by phone) said he would seek grants and legislative support, described use of the REJUVA chemical in current programs, and said the Sheridan County Weed and Pest has been a proactive program in addressing annual grasses.
The conversation also touched on a recent county‑level discussion about adding cheatgrass to the county's noxious‑weed list; commissioners said some counties opposed such listings because of the cost implications, while candidates argued that treating Ventenata and Medusahead would also address cheatgrass in many areas. No formal appointment or funding decision was made during the session. Commissioners agreed there was no need for an executive session and adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
