Weed superintendent attends conference

Michael Dolezal, Perkins County weed superintendent, recently attended the 70th annual Nebraska Weed Control Conference, held in Kearney, on Feb. 13-15.

Following the Education Committee and Board of Director’s meetings on Monday afternoon, the conference kicked off with the President’s Reception on Monday evening. 

Tuesday morning topics included: Prairie Dog Stewardship Training, Mark Jones, Scimetrics Ltd; Bison as Native Grazers, Rich Walters – The Nature Conservancy; Phragmites on the Platte; A Wicked Weed Problem—Diane Larsen, US Geological Society; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Update—Michelle Koch, Nebraska Game & Parks; Prairie Reconstruction Project, Bill Sellers—Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement; FIFRA Changes on the Horizon, Tim Creger, NDA Pesticide and Fertilizer program manager; Updates on Products by the 12 vendors; NWCA History and Slide Show, Rod Stolcpart—Rock County weed superintendent. 

Tuesday evening participants enjoyed the annual banquet and awards ceremony, followed by magician Travis Newcombe.

Wednesday’s speakers included: Equipment Maintenance and Inspection, Timm Johannesen—Warne Chemical and Equipment; Natural History and Conservation of Pollinators in Nebraska, Ben Wheeler—Pheasants Forever; Nebraska Monarch and Pollinator Initiative, Melissa Panella—Nebraska Game and Parks; Leadership and Teamwork, DeMoine Adams—Former UNL Husker football player; Weather and Weeds, Michael Moritz; NOAA meteorologist; Invasive Annual Grasses; A Growing Issue for the Great Plains—Daniel Tekiela PhD, University of Wyoming. 

During lunch on Wednesday, the NWCA annual business meeting was held. Marty Craig of Dawson County was re-elected as secretary/treasurer for the 2017-2018 term. Members voted on the location of the 2019 annual conference, with Nebraska City being the winner. The 2018 conference will be in Norfolk.

The conference was the first opportunity of 2017 for weed superintendents to get required continuing education. At every NWCA training, roll call must be answered twice each day, and the exam at the end of each day must be completed and passed for a superintendent to receive continuing credit hours. 

The next training will be NWCA spring training April 5-6 in Kearney, with new superintendent training on April 4.

 

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