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Grant County Weed Board accepts Nutrien premix bid, approves 75% cost-share and 2025 chemical prices
Summary
At its March 18 meeting the Grant County Weed Board approved a Nutrien premixed chemical bid (AquaPak), accepted packaging recommendations to use 5-gallon throwaway jugs for landowners and 15-gallon totes for roadside spraying, and set a 75% cost-share with specific price caps and limits.
The Grant County Weed Board voted on March 18 to accept a single chemical bid from Nutrien and to adopt a 75% cost-share schedule and a set of capped prices for 2025, measures the board said are intended to reduce its carryover balance while still subsidizing landowners.
Weed officer and secretary Merlin Leithold opened the Nutrien bid and described a premixed product called “AquaPak,” blended to the county’s application rates. Bill Walker of Nutrien explained the product, its mixing location and packaging choices: 5-gallon single-use (throwaway) jugs intended for retail distribution to landowners or 15-gallon returnable totes for county roadside spraying. Nutrien offered one micromatic coupler free if the county adopts the premix arrangement.
After discussion about storage and field handling, Merlin recommended using 5-gallon throwaway jugs for landowner purchases and 15-gallon totes for roadside work to avoid storing empty containers. Walker Sabin moved to accept the Nutrien bid and follow Merlin’s packaging recommendation; Drew Gaugler seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The board also approved Merlin’s recommendation to set the cost-share at 75% for 2025 and to establish price caps and per-customer limits. The approved example prices and limits (as recorded in the bid packet and board action) include Tordon at $52 per gallon (30-gallon limit), HighNoon at $95 per gallon (10-gallon limit), Plateau at $107 per gallon (5-gallon limit), Milestone at $74 per quart (12-quart limit), Facet L at $126 per gallon (5-gallon limit), Method at $365 per gallon (5-gallon limit), Escort at $2 per ounce (32-ounce limit), and AquaPak at $41 per gallon (20-gallon limit). Other listed retail prices in the bid included FreeLexx (~$33.50/gal), Amine (~$18/gal) and MSO (~$20/gal).
Merlin told the board the intent of a higher cost-share was to reduce the county’s carryover funds before potential mill levy reductions. Denis Tibor moved to accept the 75% cost-share and the listed prices; Dick Woodbury seconded and the motion carried.
The board also discussed equipment implications: some packages require micromatic couplers to open returnable totes, and Nutrien said it would provide one coupler at no charge if the county proceeds. The board accepted the offer as part of the Nutrien arrangement.
The board’s action means landowners who purchase county-subsidized chemicals through the program will receive product in the approved packaging and at the approved cost-share and limits. The motion to accept the Nutrien bid was recorded as carried; no roll-call vote totals were provided in the meeting minutes.
Next procedural steps noted by the board include arranging delivery and distribution logistics with Nutrien and notifying landowners of the pricing and quantity caps.
