02/19/08 Weed booklet

The Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign has a new booklet to help us identify the dozens of noxious weeds that have invaded the state. Campaign coordinator Roger Batt says the 115 page booklet was produced by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and its free. BATT "Its got all 57 listed noxious weed species in the state of Idaho. It has pictures of all different stages of growth. It has excellent identification of the plants, very good visual images so people can look and see what's in their backyard or on their property." The weed problem is escalating in Idaho and last September 21 new species of noxious weeds were added to the list of 36 invasive plants previously discovered in the state. BATT "Right now its costing Idaho taxpayers 300 million dollars approximately a year to help combat this problem and if we let weeds continue to grow the financial aspect is only going to get greater." Batt says its their hope that people will discover new weed outbreaks so that control measures can be taken before it spreads. You can get the booklet by calling the Idaho Noxious Weed Hotline at 1-866-IDWEEDS or go to the Internet, www.idahoweedawareness.org. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott