The Rural Voice, 1981-04, Page 16The perennial problem
Looks like we have new and different weeds to contend with
BY SHEILA GUNBY
They say a weed is a plant v, hose virtues have not yet been
discovered. Well. some farmers are discovering lots of weeds in
their fields and their virtue is yet to be detected.
The Huron federation Drainage and Soil Erosion Committee.
headed by Norman Alexander is trying to tackle the problem of
weeds. The committee feels weeds like poison hemlock. velvet
leaf and wild proso-millet are part of a "new weed invasion."
Under present regulations. some grade #1 seed may contain up
to 75 of these weed seeds per ounce. They want some of these
weeds. now classified as 3rd class in the Canada Seed Act to be
reclassified under Noxious Weeds.
The committee is urging Plant Products Division of the Canada
Dept. of Agriculture to have the Seed Act revised. And
Alexander. spokesman for the group, feels there should be more
frequent updating of the Seed Act.
"There's definitely a new invasion of weeds," he said. "The
problem is reclassifying them in the right place and we need a
board to change and revise the list frequently. The new list could
include cocklebur. wire stemmed muhly. Jerusalem artichoke.
colt's foot. velvet leaf, wild proso-millet. Johnson grass. Jimson
weed. poison hemlock and nutsedge.
Alexander says there are numerous places for noxious plants
to grow- spaces around hydro towers and railway lines and along
the 50-100 foot strips cut through bushes for ditch construction.
especially when the area is not reseeded.
Velvet leaf is common in southwestern Ontario in
cultivated crops. as well as at roadsides and -waste
areas.
PG. 14 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1981
"These areas are just great for weeds." Alexander noted.
"Just think, top soil with fertilizer and good shade and sun. You
can spray and spray the fields to death but new weeds keep
coming in from these other areas."
Packaged bird feed seed is another problem area: as
Alexander asked, "Who knows what kinds of seeds are in those
packages? No one seems to know."
He is also concerned about improper disposal of weed seeds
in mill screenings and weeds in livestock feeds.
Referring to graded seed. he stated; "You pay for the weeds in
seed and then you pay for the herbicide to get rid of them."
Huron County weed inspector Joe Gibson suggests more crop
rotation will help control weeds.
But the problem is bigger than that.
"Weeds from the Chatham area arc moving north", said
Gibson. "Some of the weeds should be on the 'Noxious list,'
but try to stop them from growing. They have found something
to control proso-millet. but it won't be licensed till 1982."
"Weed seeds from mills are usually carried in trucks to the
dump." he said. "Last year. I tried to get them to use tarps- but
there is no regulation on this."
Grass seeds allow a certain percentage of foreign material in
them. Poison hemlock was found in grass seed two years ago.
Velvet leaf came from corn from Chatham. fed to local cattle."
Mr. Gibson has also noticed yellow bedstraw near Goderich on
Cocklebur is usually found in wet ground around
farmyards. and infields along roadsides and riverjlats.
[Illustrations courtesy Ontario Dept. o/'Agricult ure
and Food]