Weed Watch
Colorado Weed Management Association
2nd Quarter Newsletter 2020
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COVID-19 Impacts on Agriculture and Stewardship in Colorado
Weed Act Rule Amendments-Postponed
CDA has decided to postpone the rule amendment process for updating the Weed Act rule until the next submittal date of July 1, 2020. The CDA is delaying the rule process due to the temporary re-assignment of some staff that would normally participate in the rule process, and are not confident that they would be able to complete the scheduled process given our current social interaction limitations that would limit/prohibit CDA conducting a public hearing.
Celebrating Colorado's Contributions to Agriculture: Ag Day Cancelled
Colorado Ag Day at the State Capitol was cancelled due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). National Agriculture Week (March 22-28) recognizes the ranchers and farmers across the nation who play a vital role in the production of safe, wholesome, food. In conjunction with this national week-long celebration, the Colorado Agriculture Council typically hosts Ag Day at the Capitol; an event that showcases Colorado’s diverse agriculture production and partners with state legislators and local chefs. It highlights the industry’s efforts in feeding, fueling, and clothing the state’s 5+ million residents, agriculture’s stewardship of the state’s resources, and agriculture’s economic impact—which is a top three contributor to the state’s economy, bringing in more than $40 billion annually and providing over 173,000 jobs.
For more information click
here.
Small Business Development Center COVID-19 Support
For information regarding support for small business affected by COVID-19, such as eligibility for grants and loans, click
here.
USDA and DOL Announce Information Sharing to Assist H-2A Employers
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help facilitate the identification of foreign and domestic workers that may be available and eligible to transfer to other U.S. agricultural sector employers to fulfill critical workforce needs within the U.S. under existing regulatory authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information click
here
.
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Jump into Spring with These Resources
CDA is working to provide information to help weed managers transition their field mapping activities to EddMaps. Visit their web-page to find out more.
NRCS Pollinator Guide can be helpful to provide your own revegetation program a needed boost while pollinators and herbicide are gaining increasing public awareness.
Visit the
CWMA website
for more information and publications on specific weeds!
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National Invasive Species Awareness Week sponsored by NAISMA
NAISMA is sponsoring
National Invasive Species Awareness Week and has already hosted the February Advocacy and Education Week and is gearing up for their May Local Events and Awareness Campaign. Participate individually or as your organization to help this movement gain momentum and publicity!
Colorado Department of Ag and CWMA will be participating by sharing information via our Weed Awareness Campaign and hosting a Weed Awareness Week in conjunction with NISAW. What are some other ways that you can join in on the fun?
- Host a virtual weed walk
- Talk to local organizations
- Send out email blasts and social media
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Weed Awareness Campaign: Leafy Spurge
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In April the Weed Awareness Campaign highlighted leafy spurge, a tough perennial that most of us have some experience with. Those who do not should consider themselves lucky! Watch the video below and share it with your citizens, clients, and friends.
Keep an eye out for the May Weed of the Month: Scotch Thistle.
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Promoting CWMA membership.
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.
Need help promoting CWMA? Let us know how we assist you.
Monica Groh, CAE
Colorado Weed Management Association
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Virtual Conferencing Etiquette
Many of us have been working from home or remotely to do our part by social distancing. This has led to a steep learning curve as meetings become conference calls or we are forced to learn how to use Zoom or Go To Meeting. While this has taught us valuable, new skills, we need to learn how to be mindful and not let our home distractions become meeting distractions.
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Legislative Update: 3/20/20
by Brett Moore-On the Ballot Consulting Sol Malick-Peak Government Affairs
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This morning, the Colorado General Assembly convened for a few minutes in each chamber to extend the Covid-19 emergency recess. At the state legislature, as with the rest of the country, it is unclear when they will be able to take up regular business again. Today should have been Day 83, but instead is now its 16th day of recess. The legislature is in jeopardy of not completing work on the vast majority of bills introduced this session, with 432 left in limbo at this time.
There is almost certainly no way to start working again until the pandemic begins to subside, given the need for the public to participate in the lawmaking process and the large number of at-risk citizens participating as legislators, lobbyists, nonpartisan legislative staff, and stakeholders.
The Joint Budget Committee had originally announced that they will return to work on April 7th . There is speculation from legislators that May 1st will be the new target date to restart the session. Regardless of the date, the House and Senate must reconvene to pass several constitutionally-required bills for the state to function: the annual budget (Long Bill); and the school finance bill. (A third constitutional requirement, the rule review bill, has already been passed and signed by the Governor). June 30th , the last day in the state fiscal year, is the presumptive deadline for these critical bills to pass.
There are mixed opinions regarding how the State Supreme Court will rule regarding the legislature’s ability to recess the session. As a reminder, the 2 most likely options are:
1. The Supreme Court allows for a “pause” allowing a restart of the session on Day 68 whenever it is deemed safe to proceed.
2. The Supreme Court could rule the session consists of 120 consecutive days regardless of recess and that the 2020 Regular session will end May 6th regardless of the date of reconvening.
Some stakeholders and legislators are confident the court will uphold the legislature’s ability to hit the “pause” button on the 120-day clock in the case of a state emergency, others believe the courts will side with consecutive days, cited in statute and referenced in the constitution. If the Supreme Court says the legislature cannot hit the “pause” button, and they cannot reconvene in time, every single bill that has not passed through the legislature will die.
At that point, the Governor or the General Assembly itself would likely call a special session once the state of emergency has been lifted. That means session could convene in the summer, at the height of election season, or even later in the year depending on how long the coronavirus shutdown lasts. The scope of legislation would depend on the Call issued by the Governor or the Legislature, and bills would be required to fall under those topics.
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Involve your Community
by Ethan Proud, Archuleta County Weed and Pest Supervisor
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Being a noxious weed manager is a difficult job and you have many hats to wear, sometimes too many: herbicide applicator, outreach coordinator, educator, botanist, field ecology, grant writer, GIS specialist-just to name a few.
In a career that doesn't seem to be getting easier, sometimes it feels like you are going it alone. Luckily for many of us, resources are out there in our community.
Last year I reached out to the Pagosa Springs High School Metal Fabrication class to inquire about manufacturing bootbrush stations. Much to my surprise the teacher was the daughter of a generational rancher who has been in contact with me about weed control and herbicide best management practices since I took the job. We installed our first bootbrush station last fall and have three more on the way.
For my educational programs I tap into our local CSU Extension Office as well as the Conservation District to share publications and speaking time at events.
The Archuleta County Weed Tour is a huge success pulling anywhere from 25-40 participants and is possible because of local municipalities, ranchers, and land owners granting us access to their land. So far no one has been to ashamed to showcase their menagerie of undesirable plants.
Noxious weed control is a daunting task and it takes a village. While you are coordinating with the state, other county managers, and other distant resources...don't forget the most valuable and accessible. Your community is in your backyard and has a vested interest just as powerful as yours.
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Call for Submissions: Are you a writer or have a story to tell?
If you have a success story or event you'd love to share...we want to help!
Colorado Weed Management Association is always looking for new content, exciting stories in integrated management, and alerts on new weed species!
Send in an article, write up, or pictures and we can share them in our quarterly newsletter.
Newsletter contributors do not have to be CWMA members.
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President
Tina Travis
President Elect
Kayla Malone
Secretary/Treasurer
Casey Cisneros
Board of Directors:
Curtis Marshall
Derek Sebastian
Drew Marino
Ethan Proud
James Herman
John Coyle
jcoyle.02@gmail.com
Kayla Malone
Mike Auciello
Ron Mabry
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Ex-Officio Members:
Steve Ryder
Mark Eike
Executive Director:
Monica Groh
7187 W. 79th Drive
Arvada, CO 80003
(303) 210-7077
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How can CWMA work for you!
Do you want to make a difference with CWMA? Would you like to influence the direction that CWMA is leading? Join a
committee!
Annual Winter Training - Kayla Malone
Communications - Ethan Proud
Education - Kayla Malone
Colorado 4 Healthy Landscapes (C4HL) - Ron Mabry
Legislative - Casey Cisneros
Membership - Drew Marino
Publications - Tina Travis
Annual Spring Training - Jonathan Rife (303) 660-7480
Want to join a committee but don't know where to start? Contact us for more info!
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Job Opportunities:
Looking to further your career in stewardship, conservation, and natural resources? CWMA shares job postings from natural resource employers!
To view job listings and descriptions, click
here.
To post a job, click
here.
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