We hope you are enjoying your winter season, whether you ski, snowshoe, sled, or just read a book by the fire! Our Board of Directors are looking forward to 2022 and bringing more value to our membership through our strategic planning objectives. Keep an eye out for new offerings this year!

Register today for our 2022 CWMA Virtual Spring Training on May 4th. Earn ALL your core credits for your CO applicators license in ONE day from your home or work computer.

For more information please contact Casey Cisneros at [email protected].  

The CWMA Past President is charged with ensuring that the organization's bylaws are maintained in an up-to-date order. The recommendations below are the result of a review conducted in 2021 in consultation with the CWMA Board of Directors.

During 2021, the CWMA Board of Directors implemented an annual strategic planning process into our operations. As a result of that strategic planning process, a streamlined mission statement is being recommended - “The mission of the Colorado Weed Management Association is to strengthen the field of science-based invasive species management”.

Two other changes are recommended:

First, the objectives of the organization have been clearly defined as a part of the strategic planning process in a way that is flexible and allows the organization to respond to changes related to noxious weed mitigation. In order to provide increased flexibility within the organization, the CWMA past president, Kayla Malone, (in consultation and with the support of the Board of Directors), is recommending the removal of section 3.02 “Objectives” in the bylaws. These objectives are included and reflected in the Strategic Plan.

Second, Kayla Malone and the Board of Directors recommends a revision to the bylaws in “Article XVI: Bylaws”. The proposed change would allow for Bylaws to be updated at any point in time during the calendar year with a vote of approval from the membership. All other requirements for bylaws updates are preserved.

Click here to see the recommended bylaws updates.

CWMA members will be asked to approve or deny the bylaws via electronic vote. Please check your inbox for an email later this week.

For more information please contact Kayla Malone at [email protected].

Last year the CWMA legislative committee and lobbying staff drafted a legislative policy guide that can be used to bolster the associations presence during the State legislative process each year. This policy guide is a living document that is meant to be flexible while providing consistent guidance for advocacy. Another goal of the document is to keep CWMA membership informed on current legislative positions that CWMA is taking.

The policy guide was previewed for membership at the 2021 Winter Training in Fort Collins, CO during the annual business meeting. The document outlines the following:

Click here review the entire CWMA Legislative Policy Guide.

CWMA members will be asked to approve or deny the CWMA Legislative Policy Guide via electronic vote. Please check your inbox for an email later this week.

For additional information on the CWMA Legislative Policy Guide, contact the legislative committee chairperson, Joe Swanson at [email protected] or our lobbyist team at [email protected].

Legislation is being introduced that has the potential to impact many of our members. The key issues that are included in the “Protect Health of Pollinators & People” include:

1. Repeal of state-wide pre-emption, meaning that every county/municipality would have the ability to restrict pesticides in their jurisdiction.

2. Reclassify Noenicitinoid pesticides as Restricted Use Products.

3. Task the Department of Natural Resources with a study on pollinator health.

4. Create a grant program in the Department of Agriculture that provides funding for farmers to purchase non-coated seeds.

5. Mandate pesticide-free schools and childcare facilities.

Draft Bill Language can be viewed here.

Get involved by joining the legislative committee meeting March 3rd or attending the stakeholder meeting February 11th. For meeting information contact Kayla Malone [email protected].

Canada Thistle Rust Fungus (Puccinia punctiformis)

Hoary Cress Gall Mites (Aceria drabae)

On October 15^th, 2021 the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Palisade Insectary received approximately ~600 Hoary cress (Lepidium draba) gall mites (Aceria drabae) from Dr. Jeff Littlefield with Montana State University. We are excited to report the introduction of these specialist mites as a first step in the process to rear, release, and monitor their impact as a biological control agent for Hoary cress in Colorado. These mites are quite small, similar to the size of bindweed mites (1/8 mm), and included in the same family (Eriophyidae). Although they are immensely small we are hopeful they can take on the big job of lessening the spread of hoary cress (or whitetop) in our state. Field collection of large enough numbers to release to the public will take two or more years, but it is an eventual goal once successful establishment in CO has been achieved. Currently the new residents are feeding on Hoary cress in the Insectary greenhouse with release into an outdoor garden, the goal for spring 2022.

February Weed of the Month: Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)

prepared by Tina Travis, El Paso County Environmental Technician

Learn more about the campaign 

How Can We Help?

Do you know someone that should be a member of CWMA? Learn all about CWMA benefits and membership types at www.cwma.org/membership. Use this information as talking points to encourage colleagues to join and get active with CWMA. 

Or, perhaps you are unsure whether someone you know is already a member? Search for them in our directory located in the members-only online portal. You can also use this site to renew your membership, register for CWMA events, and update your contact information.

Native Plant Spotlight: Asclepias asperula

Asclepias asperula is a milkweed which goes by many names: antelope-horns, spider milkweed, green-flowered milkweed, and inmortal.

Like all milkweeds, antelope-horns is a food source for monarch butterflies and is toxic to livestock. Despite being toxic, it has been used in herbal remedies in Southwestern communities. Antelope-horns are perennials that grow to a height of two feet tall and have narrow lanceolate leaves, and curved seed pods (which is where the name antelope-horns comes from).

Antelope-horns are present along the Western Slope, and from Central Colorado down to the Southeastern Plains.

Email submissions to the Communications Committee. Please limit pieces to 500 words.

Do you want to make a difference with CWMA? Would you like to influence the direction that CWMA is leading? Join a committee by reaching out to the chairs and co-chairs listed below.

Training and Education 

Ethan Proud

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