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Commission approves $4,000 treatment to control Japanese knotweed at Farrar Farm
Summary
The Randolph Community Forest Committee unanimously approved a $4,000 estimate from Joel White of North Country Invasives Services to cut and treat Japanese knotweed at Farrar Farm. The contractor said a permit from the Division of Pesticide Control may be required because of nearby water features.
On June 4, 2025, the Randolph Community Forest Committee voted unanimously to approve a $4,000 estimate from Joel White of North Country Invasives Services, LLC to control extensive Japanese knotweed at the Farrar Farm tract.
Joel White advised the commission that knotweed patches are concentrated behind the building near a small stream and an old well — locations that will require a special permit from the Division of Pesticide Control before glyphosate can be applied. "The knotweed should be cut as soon as possible, in June," White said, adding that he plans to cut with a scythe to avoid spreading root fragments and to return later, between flowering and first frost, to apply a glyphosate spray that he dyes blue to mark treated areas. He told the commission the dye is not harmful and that roped‑off barriers will be used to keep people from the treated zones until the spray dries.
David Willcox moved to approve White's $4,000 estimate; Laura Brockett seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously to approve the work. The motion directs staff and the contractor to follow permitting steps required by the Division of Pesticide Control and to rope off treated areas as needed.
Committee members and guests discussed logistics and public outreach. Laura Brockett suggested publishing details of the project in the Randolph weekly to inform residents. White recommended using the work as an educational demonstration about invasive species and their effects on ecosystems, and the commission discussed including invasive‑species education in the agenda for the town's Forest Day.
The treatment is expected to be a multi‑year effort: White said cutting followed by seasonal herbicide application is necessary to interrupt the plant's nutrient uptake and gradually reduce the infestation. Next steps are to finalize timing in June, confirm any permitting requirements with the Division of Pesticide Control, and schedule the contracted work.
