Commissioners review annual weed reports

SIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County Commissioners met with Weed Superintendent Cris Burks this week.

Burks presented the annual weed reports during the April 17 meeting. She said the State Department of Agriculture oversees weed management programs. Cheyenne County received "all points possible" in its review, Burks said. 

She also asked about a procedure done in another Nebraska county; organic growers are required to register their fields. The intent, according to Burks, is for the county to know where organic growing operations take place in planning weed eradication.

Commissioner Phil Sanders said he is not in favor of registering farm activity. He said the county has a responsibility to public land and should maintain it.

"If it (noxious weeds) is on county property, we have to spray it," Sanders said.

Commissioner Randy Miller agreed.

"We're going to do our job and our due diligence," Miller said, "but to require them to register, I don't like it."

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture does promote an online mapping service that connects specialty crop growers, pesticide applicators and bee keepers to protect sensitive crops and applicators. A March 10, 2023 press release said  FieldWatch™ is an online mapping service, and NDA monitors FieldWatch registries for the state. Included in FieldWatch are commercial apiary sites, vineyards, orchards, fruit and vegetable grow sites, nursery and Christmas tree production sites and certified organic and transitional organic crops.