Southern IPM Center announces Enhancement Grant Program

The IPM Enhancement Grants Program is a one of the key ways the Southern IPM Center address important issues affecting the region.  Groups interested in developing or implementing Integrated Pest Management solutions can apply for funding.  There is no restriction based on setting or commodity nor problems that are being addressed as long as the project is effectively bringing IPM to the region and has the potential to positively impact our region. This means that projects can range widely - from settings that include agriculture, urban and school environments, forestry, and wildlife to a wide variety of topics including invasive species management, organic pest management options, countering pesticide resistance, and development of new tools to assist in pest management decisions.

$220,000 is available this year with projects limited to $30,000 - $40,000 depending on project type The funding covers a one-year project, so please keep that in mind when considering your proposal. If interested, see http://bit.ly/1gUmkaD for more information.

Montana Adds Three Species to their Noxious Weed List

If you don't know what the U.S. Noxious Weed Lists are, here is are some quick facts:

• Separate Federal and State, and even some local/municipal/county lists exist
• Federal Noxious Weed List was established by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, was amended in 1990, and then was superseded by the Plant Protection Act in 2000
• State and local lists can be created by different agencies in each state
• Plants are added based on their ability to damage the environment, cause harm to persons, or disrupt the economy
• Federally - Movement of listed plant species is restricted (without a permit)
• Many of the plants were added specifically for their impact on agriculture or natural areas

As of July, 2015, Montana added three new invasive species to their state Noxious Weed List:

Parrot Feather Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum aquaticum [pictured] or M. brasiliense) by Graves Lovell, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bugwood.org

Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa) by U.S. Geological Survey Archive, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org

common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis) by Caleb Slemmons, National Ecological Observatory Network, Bugwood.org

These are all plants that are found in or near water.  They can choke out native plant species, thus minimizing the food sources for many aquatic species, and they can also dramatically alter the available light and nutrients.


Want to know more about these species and where they are found?

Common Reed - Maps, Species Information, and Images
Brazilian waterweed - Maps, Species Information, Wiki Article, and Images
Myriophyllum aquaticum - Maps, Species Information, Wiki Article, and Images

Source Article: State Adds Three New Invasive Plants to Noxious Weed List

USDA-NRCS SoilWeb App Shows You What's Under Your Feet

A free app available for iPhone and Android phones, SoilWeb provides users with in the field knowledge of the soil type wherever they are.  This smartphone app is the evolution of the Web Soil Survey online tool, a website which allowed users to explore soil information.  The app not only uses you smartphone GPS to give you all the text information about the soil series at your location, but it will also show a graphic of the soil horizon.  Having data in-field while making various decisions about management options will help users make more informed choices and will save time from having to physically dig the land up to learn the area. This tool will be useful for farmers, range land managers, conservationists, and anyone who may be concerned with managing land.

Excavated area showing soil horizons by Andrew Koeser, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

Source Article: A Smartphone App Provides New Way to Access Soil Survey Information