VEGREVILLE, Alta. — Terry Eleniak has worked for Lamont County for more than 20 years and has never seen so many weeds.
“There’s been an explosion of weeds,” said the agricultural field-man for the county.
Continuous rain through the spring and summer has created ideal conditions for new and dormant weed seeds to germinate and thrive.
On a normal year, the county would typically conduct 500 to 600 weed inspections and issue 16 to 18 weed notices to farmers that they must deal with weeds. This year, the two full-time weed inspectors have inspected 1,050 fields and issued 68 weed notices.
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Dry weather early in the season prevented weeds and crops from germinating evenly. Then the rain started, but some farmers were still able to spray their crops.
“They made ruts from one end to the other, but they got it sprayed,” he said.
Other farmers missed the narrow spraying window between the rains and the weeds took off, especially scentless chamomile and white cockle.
Eleniak said the county is trying to work with the farmers to control the weeds in a difficult year. Recently, the county hired a contractor to use a high clearance sprayer to spray a field, but it got stuck three times.
“Considering the environmental factors faced this year, both the municipalities’ hands are tied and the producers’ are tied,” he said.
“We’re not turning a blind eye. We’re working with the producer.”
Eleniak is recommending producers spray the perimeter of their field to limit the spread of the weed seeds. The county will start early next year to manage weeds in the highly infested fields.
“Next year, they will be on the red list or the hit list,” he said.
“I don’t want to throw the book at producers, but at the same time, I have obligations. Under the Weed Control Act, I am appointed by the province to ensure the weed act is being abided by.”
Harry Brooks, an agrologist with Alberta Agriculture in Stettler, said there is no shortage of weeds in the province.
“There’s lots of them,” said Brooks.
He said a cold, slow spring that created different stages of crop and weed development meant a lot of weeds escaped the spray. Wet conditions after seeding were ideal for weed seeds in the soil to germinate and thrive.
“Sometimes I think there is an inexhaustible supply of weed seeds waiting to be exposed to sun and moisture. I don’t think we’ll ever run out of weeds,” he said.
“It’s the excitement and thrills of farming in Alberta.”
