THE WEED
Hoary cress, also
called whitetop, is a deep rooted, invasive mustard
perennial that poses a threat to both crop and
rangelands in the Western U.S.. Accidentally introduced
to North America from western Asia and eastern Europe as
a seed contaminant, hoary cress currently infests more
than a quarter million acres of public and private land
and is found on the noxious weed lists of 14 states and
one Canadian province.
THE CONSORTIUM
In an effort to
curb the spread of this noxious weed, several state,
federal and international agencies, universities and
organizations have joined together to explore biological
control options and study the ecology and systematics of
this important pest plant. The Hoary Cress Consortium,
formed in 2001, includes representatives and researchers
from: CABI Biociences, Switzerland;
USDA-ARS European Biological
Control Laboratory, Montpellier, France;
Agriculture, Food and Rural
Development, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Forestry Science
Lab, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT;
USDA-ARS Northern Plains
Agricultural Research Laboratory, Sidney, MT;
USDA-ARS Eastern Oregon
Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR; USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Billing, MT; USDI Bureau of Land Management,
Utah,
Montana, Oregon;
California Department of Food and
Agriculture, Sacramento, CA;
Idaho Department of Agriculture,
Boise, ID; Oregon Department of Agriculture,
Salem, OR;
Idaho Fish and Game, Nampa, ID; National Bison Range, Moise, MT;
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID;
Montana State University, Bozeman,
MT; Oregon State University, Malheur
Experiment Station, Ontario, OR;
Wyoming Weed & Pest,
Fremont,
Big
Horn,
Crook and
Washakie Counties;
and Malheur-Owyhee Watershed Council,
Ontario, OR.