Perkins County weed superintendent attends spring training

Michael Dolezal, Perkins County Weed Superintendent, recently attended the Nebraska Weed Control Association’s spring training, held in Kearney on April 4-5.  

This was the second opportunity for required continuing education in 2018. At each training session, superintendents must answer roll call twice a day, complete and pass the exam at the end of each day to receive his or her continuing education credit hours. 

Wednesday’s topics included:  2017 Nebraska County Infestation Reports Summary – Mitch Coffin, Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA); Phragmites Ecology – Dr. Tala Awada, UNL Research Division; Weeds to Watch for in 2018 – Kristi Paul, Sheridan County Weed Superintendent; Using Caution on Roadsides due to Methamphetamine Manufacturing – Nate Jacobsen, Nebraska State Patrol; Invasive Ornamentals – Sarah Browning, UNL Extension;  Dicamba Research and Regulations, Dr. Stevan Knezevic, UNL Extension; Important Steps in 10 & 15 Day Notices, and Monarch Butterfly Update – Rob Schultz, Hall/Howard County Weed Superintendent;  Update on NWCA WeedMapper – Marty Craig, Dawson/Gosper County Weed Superintendent.

Thursday’s topics included:  South Dakota’s Noxious Weed Program – Ron Moehring, South Dakota Department of Agriculture; Importance of Herbicide Spray Records – Chad Engle, Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency, and Becky Paulsen, Seward County Weed Superintendent; Weed Free Gravel Inspection Program – Marsha Watland, Becker County, Minnesota; Burlington Northern Railroad’s Noxious Weed Management Plan – Ryan Cammack, Ferrovia LLC; Noxious Weed Review – Dave Boschult, Tim Stortz, Jeff Lampmann and Paul Moyer, NDA Regional Inspectors;  Implications of Climate Change for Invasive Species – Webinar, shown by Todd Boller, Fillmore County Weed Superintendent.

New Superintendent’s Orientation was held at the same location April 3, for those with three or less years of experience. 

All programs must be approved by the NDA, as described in the Nebraska Noxious Weed Act.  

The next opportunity for continuing education will be the NWCA fall training, Nov. 7-8, at Kearney.