D) To assist 25 CDs in the Clarks Fork and 

 Missouri River Basins to research water availability, 

 and it possible, to secure water reservations: the 

 CDD will work with the Water Resources Division, 



DNRC to carry out this objective. See Part A, Ob- 

 jective 32 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: The CDs need to secure a future 

 source of water for agricultural production. 



NOXIOUS WEEDS 



Situation 



Noxious weed infestation is increasing statewide and 

 is a serious threat to Montana's cropland and rangeland 

 resources. It is estimated that loss of production caused by 

 noxious weeds is costing the state a total of 100 million 



dollars per year (Montana Department of Agriculture 

 1981). Many of the CDs' long-range plans identify pro- 

 blem weed species and infested acreages. Estimated acres 

 of noxious weed infestation in Montana are shown in 

 table 4. 



TABLE 4 



Weed 



NOXIOUS WEED INFESTATION 

 IN MONTANA, 1978 



Affected Acreage 



Canada thistle 1,038,546 



Field bindweed 278,730 



Russian knapweed 57,407 



White top 62,635 



Source: ASCS, 1978 

 Note: In 1979, leafy spurge infestations affected 548,323 acres. 



In 1980 individual operators paid 22.5 million dollars 

 for noxious weed control (Montana Department of 

 Agriculture 1981). Proper tillage practices on cropland 

 can be effective in controlling weeds; however, infested 

 areas on rangeland are often inaccessible and difficult to 

 treat mechanically or chemically. Proper range manage- 

 ment will help to control noxious weed problems. 

 Biological controls offer some possibilities for weed con- 

 trol in inaccessible areas but increased research is needed 

 in the state. 



The 1969 Montana Weed Law was enacted to 

 minimize the prennial noxious weed problem. Every 

 county now has a weed district with boards to administer 

 the noxious weed law. The law lists five noxious weeds: 

 Canada thistle, leafy spurge, wild morning glory (field 

 bindweed), white top, and Russian knapweed. Counties 

 can add to this noxious weed list if they wish. Some weed 

 districts have problems with financing weed control pro- 

 grams, hiring and retaining well qualified personnel, and 

 carrying on a sufficient educational program for their 

 districts (Montana Committee for Rural Development 

 1979). 



Concerns 



Noxious weed infestation is degrading the 

 quantity and quality of Montana's cropland and 

 rangeland. There is lack of sufficient research and 

 technology on biological weed control in Mon- 

 tana. Furthermore, some local governments (weed 

 districts) do not have the resources to deal effec- 

 tively with their noxious weed problems. 



Objectives 



A) To provide loans for weed control the 

 CDD will include weed control loans in Rangeland 

 Improvement Loan Program packages (see 

 Rangeland Improvement section). See Part A, Ob- 

 jective 5 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: Incentives to control noxious 

 weeds must be provided in order to alleviate the 

 problem. 



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