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Commissioners sign letter supporting Ventanata study in Carter County
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a letter of support for a proposed study of the invasive grass Ventanata, to be led by regional range specialists; the study is intended to test whether late-summer fires and other treatments (including herbicide options) are effective and cost-efficient for local producers.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted to sign a letter of support for a planned study of Ventanata, a noxious invasive grass, after a presentation from the county weed-district representative and range specialists.
Amanda Williams (weed-district representative) described the planned project and the three scientists involved: Jane Mangold (extension rangeland weed specialist), Lance Vermeer (range scientist at Fort Keogh) and Georgia Hayes (new in Department of Animal and Range Sciences). "So what we're looking at doing is doing a study on the Ventanata here in Carter County," Williams said, explaining the team hopes to test late-summer and early-fall fire treatments and evaluate more cost-effective herbicide options for producers.
Commissioners and the weed district discussed scope (initially focused on Carter County with potential work on BLM land and other private parcels), grant competitiveness for the Noxious Weed Trust Fund, and the possibility of involving a master's student to lead field work. Speakers noted producers' concerns over initial herbicide costs and interest in alternative approaches. Committee member (speaker 2) moved to sign the letter of support and speaker 3 seconded; the motion passed by voice vote with no public comment.
Next steps: the weed district will collect signatures and forward the letter with the grant application; the commissioners indicated they will stay updated on project progress and additional letters of support from other local groups were noted.
