York County Release
YORK – More than a year ago, even when it was still winter at the time, York County Weed Superintendent Ernie Price already said he was watching for phragmites infestations. He said he had concerns as phragmites was being seen in certain areas of the county.
His worries have come true as more areas of this type of noxious weed invasion are being seen and the battle is on to not only contain it but to get rid of it.
Phragmites is a grass which is found forming dense patches in wet and moderately fertile soils along banks of ponds, lakes, streams, marshes, roads, ditches and in wet fields, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. It is readily eaten by cattle and horses when it is immature. Seeds are eaten by waterfowl and the rhizomes and stems are eaten by muskrats. Redwing blackbirds preferentially nest in common reeds.
The department of agriculture says, “A dense stand of phragmites out-competes native plant communities and alters the conveyance of water by channelizing the river channels creating vegetated sandbars. Natural river flows can be restricted, thus making the areas susceptible to flooding during high water events.”
The department of agriculture also says stands of phragmites can be suppressed by mowing and/or grazing. “Mowing reduces the plants’ vigor but continuous mowing is necessary to keep the stand in check. Mowing activities produce numerous small plant parts which are capable of resprouting and possibly increasing new shoots. This method should be used for short-term control until more effective methods can be applied.
The use of cattle or goats has shown mixed results in containing dense stands of phragmites. Vegetation should be grazed early in the growing season and continually grazed throughout the season. This method can suppress seed production as well as stressing root reserves of the plant.”
York County Commissioner Andy Bowman talked about the phragmites issue this past week, during the county board’s regular meeting. Commissioner Bowman is the county’s liaison with the weed department.
“Phragmites is becoming an issue on the south side of the county,” Bowman said. “It is a problem and we want to tell the public this is not a problem the landowners created or need to correct by themselves. We are in this with the landowners to help them and Ernie has been talking with neighboring counties (regarding grants and other group efforts) about how everyone can work together to take care of this problem. I think we can make an impact on this. We are systematically knocking out patches, but it is a much bigger problem now than was foreseen even six months ago.”
Price continues to do inspections and weed combat work in the county – when doing so, he uses a county vehicle so people know why he is there and they can ask questions, get more information, etc.
If someone wants help with identifying noxious weeds or if they have questions, they can contact Price at 402-710-6514 or email him at eprice@yorkcountyne.gov.
