In support of National Invasive Weed Awareness Week, February 25 - March 2, the nine Pennsylvania Resource Conservation & Development Councils announced they will be conducting a special project this summer to increase the awareness and control of noxious and invasive weeds on agricultural land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in Pennsylvania.

Through the Weed Control/Wildlife Habitat assistance project, RC&D Councils will be working with landowners enrolled in CREP by providing information and resources on how to address noxious and invasive weeds on their property while emphasizing the beneficial plants that improve wildlife habitat.

Controlling noxious weeds is a requirement of CREP participants; however, some people have difficulty recognizing these weeds in their early and middle growth stages before the plants become fully established and more difficult to control.

This unique project will offer an opportunity for landowners to ask questions, seek advice and gain a better understanding of how and why to control noxious and invasive weeds on their property.

While noxious weed control is important in and of itself, it is a critical component for attaining the ultimate goal of creating and maintaining high quality wildlife habitat on land enrolled in CREP.

This project is not only focusing on weed control, but will also address how beneficial plants diversify the habitat on you CREP plantings and benefit wildlife.

Since many beneficial forbs and grasses for wildlife may be mistaken for noxious or invasive plants, it is equally important to help landowners identify the desirable plant species among the CREP plantings. The RC&D Councils expect to begin the project in March and complete it by October 2007. Depending on the success of the project and available funding, it may be continued in future years.

Technical assistance and funding for this project are being provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Other partners in the project include Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Penn State Cooperative Extension, the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources and the Game Commission.

Please visit the RC&D Council website to find your local council. 

For more information contact: Ryan Koch, Phone No. 570-282-8732 ext. 610 Pocono Northeast RC&D Coordinator John Metrick, Phone No. 215-453-9527 ext. 5 Southeastern PA RC&D Coordinator

3/2/2007