Italian thistle
June 27, 2021 - The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) and the Sierra National Forest (SNF) recently partnered with Corteva Agribusiness to eradicate noxious and invasive non-native weeds from high priority areas on the SNF. This work is the first project undertaken as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Region 5 and Corteva.
The right amount of herbicide applied at the right time and in the right place can have profound effects on native vegetation, improving the landscape for creatures that make the area their home. The Corteva – SNF partnership aims to control invasive weeds using the right herbicide(s), rate, and timing to maximize results and minimize effects to non-target organisms. Herbicide and professional applicator services were donated by Corteva Agribusiness, and the return on their investment will be the before and after data for their research and development.
The partnership goal is to treat invasive, non-native weeds like Italian thistle, yellow starthistle, and Klamathweed in areas of the SNF, where National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance exists, and to demonstrate the effective combination and timing of herbicides commonly used for invasive-weed control in California. Controlling invasive weeds allows native plants and wildlife to re-occupy formerly weed-infested landscapes and reduces further spread of weeds.
The areas receiving treatment have adjacent, non-treated control plots for comparison over time. On May 1, 2021, the first SNF sites treated under this partnership were at the North Fork administration site, Bass Lake Ranger District, selected to reduce risk of weed spread at a busy Forest Service compound. A Corteva vegetation management specialist and a Forest Service botanist oversaw the treatments, which precisely targeted invasive weeds with Milestone herbicide, while avoiding native plants.
On May 24, 2021, the SNF botanist revisited the treatment sites to monitor the effects and progress of these first applications. Invasive weed treatments were very effective, and within a few years there should be a visually striking difference between treated and untreated plots.
Under the MOU between Corteva and Region 5, work will continue to move ahead on efforts to eradicate these and other invasive non-native species in strategic locations throughout the SNF.
ABOUT
The USDA Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R5.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc (Corteva): Corteva is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry - including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva became an independent public company on June 1, 2019 and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.
Source: SNF
