Weeds. They’re the bane of every backyard gardener’s existence. But when they invade farmland, stream buffers, and wildlife habitats, these unwanted culprits can be more than an annoyance.

They can cause serious trouble – from reducing crop yields and interfering with harvest operations (and so increasing food prices), to producing a significant change in the way an ecosystem works (which threatens our native wildlife).

The Westmoreland Conservation District and the Penn's Corner Resource Conservation and Development Council is sponsoring a day-long workshop and field trip on how to identify and control the worst members of the weed kingdom

-- invasive and noxious weeds -- on July 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westmoreland Conservation District headquarters on Donohoe Road in Greensburg.

The workshop is geared for landowners who are participating in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and for those who commercially apply pesticides and weed control methods. However, anyone interested in this important topic is welcome to attend.

Topics include: encouraging wildlife habitat, weed management, animal issues, spraying tips (herbicide application), and biosecurity.

Speakers include: John Lohr, county executive director, Farm Service Agency; Tammy Colt, southwest region wildlife diversity biologist, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Eric Oesterling, extension educator/horticulture, Penn State Cooperative Extension Westmoreland County; Dan Griffith, nutrient management specialist/ agricultural conservation technician, Westmoreland Conservation District; and Tom Sierzega, district conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

After a provided lunch, attendees will travel by bus to nearby Heinnickel Farms where they can see first-hand a buffer area, wildlife habitat, and weed control methods.

Cost of the event is $15, and interested individuals are encouraged to register no later than July 13 by calling the Westmoreland Conservation District at 724-837-5271 or sending an email to christie@wcdpa.com . Registration is limited to 50 people.

The workshop is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

7/6/2007