Standoff Heats Up & Noxious Weeds

Standoff Heats Up & Noxious Weeds

Standoff Heats Up & Noxious Weeds. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Federal agents have sealed off the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge where armed activists have been holed up for the last three weeks. The agents took over the scene after a shootout on Tuesday evening left one activist dead, another injured and the others under arrest including the groups leader, Ammon Bundy. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden released a statement yesterday saying, quote: "I urge those who remain at the refuge to go home before anyone else gets hurt. And when this done and the cameras' glare turns away from rural Oregon, the healing process will be a long one."

In the ongoing effort to improve fish and wildlife habitat in Oregon, the planting of desirable grasses and other vegetation to control erosion and siltation is very important. But it doesn't do any good if what is planted is infested with weed seeds according to Tim Butler of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Program.

BUTLER:  Prevention is certainly our first line of defense for managing noxious weeds statewide. Historically, many of our worst noxious weeds were introduced as seed contaminants and brought into this country or into Oregon.

Butler says contaminated seed has inadvertently introduced weeds to sensitive areas in the state. He advises land managers and owners to make sure what goes in the ground is clean and weed-free.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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