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PRESS RELEASES
TEAM Leafy Spurge Produces Video Documentary October 30, 2002
The video is now available online at the ARS website (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/video/vnr/spurge.htm). In announcing the videotape distribution, TEAM Leafy Spurge director, Gerry Anderson, noted, “This is a great informational tool for everyone to learn about the need for weed control in the rural environment. We encourage those receiving this tape to share it in their community as it is ideal for use in the classroom, libraries and at community events.” TEAM Leafy Spurge’s goal is to research, develop and demonstrate ecologically based Integrated Pest Management strategies that can be used to achieve effective, affordable and sustainable leafy spurge control, and to provide a variety of educational resources on that same topic. In addition to the video, other products available from TEAM Leafy Spurge are, “Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database 4.0” and a series of how-to manuals and CD-ROMs on the integrated pest management of leafy spurge. The first manual/CD set, entitled “Biological Control of Leafy Spurge,” gives detailed information regarding the use of insects to control leafy spurge infestations. Second in the series, “Multi-species Grazing and Leafy Spurge” integrates grazing animals, such as sheep with cattle, to help reduce leafy spurge densities. Production on the third set in the series, “Herbicide Control of Leafy Spurge” has begun. Available in mid-November, the how-to manual on herbicides provides information on proper herbicide use, including calibration techniques for spray equipment, a general overview of the variety of herbicides available for use against leafy spurge, and how to use herbicides with other pest management strategies. If you are interested in any of the materials listed above, please contact the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, 1500 North Central Avenue in Sidney, MT, or phone 406 433-2020. You may also e-mail teamls[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov or visit TEAM Leafy Spurge’s website at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov for many of these publications and further information on leafy spurge. Funded by USDA-Agricultural Research Service and managed cooperatively with the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, TEAM Leafy Spurge stresses partnerships, teamwork and a cooperative approach to solving the leafy spurge problem. TEAM members include state and federal agencies, state Cooperative Extension Services, land grant universities, weed managers, county and other local entities, and private landowners and ranchers.
TEAM Leafy Spurge Releases Newest IPM Manual: Herbicide Control of Leafy Spurge October 30, 2002
TEAM Leafy Spurge has
announced publication of its third “how-to” manual on leafy
The herbicide control manual
covers the basics, including a leafy spurge summary,
Herbicides continue to be a
popular, but expensive, tool for controlling leafy spurge;
Developed by TEAM Leafy
Spurge, the manual was authored by leafy spurge herbicide
“TEAM Leafy Spurge is eager
to disseminate this herbicide information because of its
Two earlier manuals in the
IPM series, Biological Control of Leafy Spurge and
The Herbicide Control of
Leafy Spurge manual, along with other products of TEAM Leafy
TEAM Leafy Spurge is a
six-year IPM research and demonstration project funded and led
TEAM Leafy Spurge Delivers Resource Materials to Six-State Region April 30, 2002 (USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, Sidney, MT) TEAM Leafy Spurge has distributed more than 1,800 Information Resource Center sets to Extension Agents, Weed Supervisors and other interested parties across a six-state region. The Information Resource Centers are three-ring binders sporting a collection of informational and educational resources about biological control and the Integrated Pest Management of leafy spurge. Also receiving binders were municipal weed supervisors in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada, and the following federal and state agencies: Bureau of Land Management; Bureau of Indian Affairs; U.S. Forest Service; National Park Service; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Fish and Wildlife Service (North Dakota); Department of Transportation (North Dakota) and Parks and Recreation Department (North Dakota). Included in the binders are numerous CD-ROMs, brochures, manuals and reports developed by TEAM Leafy Spurge and aimed at helping public and private land managers combat leafy spurge. Among the CDs are the latest update of the popular Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge, the first in a series of CDs highlighting different IPM techniques for leafy spurge control. Additional materials in that IPM series – including CDs and manuals on herbicides and multi-species grazing – as well as other items currently being developed by TLS, will be mailed to binder recipients as they become available. TEAM Leafy Spurge is a five-year research and demonstration project funded by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in cooperation with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Two New CDs published by TEAM Leafy Spurge April 30, 2002 SIDNEY – TEAM Leafy Spurge has released two new free CD-ROMs on leafy spurge management that provide information on controlling spurge by using a variety of integrated pest management approach. The most recent release is entitled: "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge." The second CD is an updated version of the popular "Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database" CD-ROM last published in 1995. Both are free and may be ordered individually or in bulk. "Both have been popular with their audiences, with the initial 5,000 CDs nearly gone. A second run is on order," says Chad Prosser, a TEAM coordinator at USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney, Mont. "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge: Informational Resource CD" is the first release in TEAM Leafy Spurge’s new IPM Information Series on leafy spurge management. While it focuses on biological control, it and other CDs in the series are designed to be used together to help landowners and land managers develop biologically based integrated pest management plans for leafy spurge control on their rangeland. This first CD offers a comprehensive overview of how to obtain and use biological control agents to control leafy spurge. It is intended as a companion to the "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge" manual that has been distributed to more than 40,000 individuals, organizations and agencies in 27 states and four Canadian provinces. The popular manual is included on the CD in the free Acrobat Reader format along with a "how-to" Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on biological control of spurge; a poster/publication section, a photo gallery, an extensive bibliography, and more. The TEAM Leafy Spurge CD was produced by Steve Merritt, former TLS technical information specialist, and R. D. Richard, USDA-APHIS PPQ in Bozeman, Mont., along with the aid of NPARL staff. (Richard coauthored a leafy spurge photo gallery CD also issued by TEAM Leafy Spurge in January 2000. That product has been incorporated into this latest offering to provide end users with a convenient, single source of reference on the biological control of leafy spurge.) In addition to biological control, future CDs in the series will cover multi-species grazing for leafy spurge control, along with herbicide use. The goal of the series is to "bring the expert to the end user," says TEAM Leafy Spurge Project Manager Gerry Anderson. That one-to-one approach is accomplished through a 20-minute, narrated, "how-to" Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, which TEAM Leafy Spurge scientists helped to develop. The "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge" CD also features a photo gallery with more than 200 images in a variety of formats that the viewer can use in their own presentations or publications. And finally, the CD also sports additional resources such as insect profiles for 11 released biological control agents of leafy spurge; ready-to-print informational posters, a selection of numerous TEAM Leafy Spurge publications and brochures, an extensive bibliography and more. "This CD provides the end user with all the information they need to get started with biological control,” Prosser, TEAM's project coordinator, says. "And future CDs will do the same for those interested in multi-species grazing or herbicides as part of their integrated pest management plans." Another product recently released by TEAM Leafy Spurge is the updated "Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database, Version 4.0" published in Nov. 2001. The original CD won a federal technology award for its innovative use of CD-ROM technology to incorporate more than 400 documents, photos, graphics and maps on leafy spurge control. This latest version now contains more than 900 documents, ranging from journal articles to Extension Service bulletins and symposium proceedings, all focusing on the weed, its impact and management options. Management techniques featured include biological control, chemical control, grazing and cultural practices, with an emphasis on combining two or more of these tools in an integrated pest management program for more effective leafy spurge control. Both the "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge" and "Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database, Version 4" are available from TEAM Leafy Spurge, USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, 1500 North Central Avenue, Sidney, MT; phone 406-433-2020; fax 406-433-5038 or, for faster service, you may order through the TEAM Leafy Spurge website at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/infoproducts.html.
TEAM Leafy Spurge Publishes Grazing Manual By Steve Merritt for the MSU News Service Tuesday, June 26, 2001 SIDNEY, Montana – If you’re interested in using sheep to manage leafy spurge, TEAM Leafy Spurge has a must-read manual that will likely answer most of your questions. "Multi-Species Grazing and Leafy Spurge" is a full-color, 28-page how-to handbook that focuses on multi-species grazing as a tool to manage leafy spurge, improve range health and productivity, and potentially add a profitable enterprise to existing ranch operations. Tim Faller, director of the North Dakota State University-Hettinger Research Extension Center and leader of the TEAM Leafy Spurge multi-species grazing research and demonstration project, says the manual is a particularly good tool for ranchers who are new to the sheep business. "The subtitle says ‘A comprehensive, easy-to-read manual on using multi-species grazing as an effective leafy spurge management tool,’ and that sums up my feelings about the manual," Faller said. "It’s an excellent tool for ranchers who don’t have any experience with sheep or goats, and for ranchers who are looking for alternative leafy spurge control tools." The manual covers all of the basics. Topics include how multi-species grazing works, what can be expected from multi-species grazing programs, diet selection, stocking rates, fencing requirements, predation and more. The manual also features an extensive section on economics. "There are a lot of scenarios and a lot of things to think about, and economics is obviously one of the most important considerations," Faller said. "This manual walks ranchers through different types of economic considerations to see if multi-species grazing is a good fit for their existing operation." For example, sheep do not necessarily have to be profitable in order to add profitability to the entire operation, Faller said. In most cases, the economic benefits of multi-species grazing – such as leafy spurge control, enhanced range utilization, improved forage production, etc. – will exceed the costs of adding sheep to an existing operation. And, in some situations, ranchers can profit from sheep production as well as leafy spurge control. "The manual provides some simple formulas that can be used to figure out the economics for your specific operation," Faller said. "The formulas alone are a really valuable tool." While some cattle ranchers may not like the idea of adding sheep to their cattle operations, Faller said multi-species grazing offers numerous benefits that should be considered if leafy spurge is a problem. "The manual identifies and discusses some common fallacies about mixing sheep and cattle, and I think that’s important," he said. "Cattle ranchers need to let go of any preconceived ideas they might have about sheep if they are looking for a long-term, sustainable solution to leafy spurge control." The manual is available by calling 406-433-2020 or by sending an e-mail request to teamls[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov. It can also downloaded or viewed on-line from the TEAM Leafy Spurge website at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/infoproducts TEAM Leafy Spurge is a five-year IPM research and demonstration project funded and led by the USDA-ARS in partnership with the USDA-Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service. It’s goal is providing landowners and land managers with proven leafy spurge control techniques based on IPM strategies. For additional information on TEAM Leafy Spurge, leafy spurge biocontrol or Integrated Pest Management, see the TEAM Leafy Spurge website at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov or send an e-mail to teamls[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov.
New Leafy Spurge Biocontrol Manual Available By Steve Merritt for the MSU News Service Wednesday, May 24, 2000 SIDNEY, Montana — TEAM Leafy Spurge has teamed up with the USDA-APHIS and North Dakota Department of Agriculture to produce "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge," a full color, 20-page manual on using leafy spurge flea beetles. The how-to manual provides step-by-step instructions on implementing a biocontrol program for leafy spurge using flea beetles. It details the entire process, from obtaining flea beetles and picking release sites to evaluating success, harvesting and redistributing flea beetles, and integrating biocontrol with other leafy spurge management tools. Gerry Anderson, co-principal investigator of the TEAM Leafy Spurge program, said the manual is a great resource for anyone interested in biological control of leafy spurge. "It’s easy to read and extremely informative," Anderson said. "People who follow the guidelines listed in the manual will definitely improve their chances of effectively incorporating biological control into their leafy spurge management plans. The manual is a revised version of "Biological Control of Leafy Spurge Using Flea Beetles in North Dakota," originally compiled in 1998 by Dave Hirsch, USDA-APHIS PPQ officer in Bismarck, N.D., and Dave Nelson, state entomologist for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The original manual was "one of the best resources available" for information about using leafy spurge flea beetles, Anderson said, but its focus was limited to North Dakota. "Our goal is making the same information available to people throughout the northern Great Plains," Anderson said. Hirsch, who has worked with leafy spurge flea beetles since the mid-1980s, said the best thing about the manual is the quality of information it contains. "Information used in the manual was collected by a lot of people with a lot of experience," Hirsch said. "That’s what makes it so useful — it’s information from people with plenty of hands-on experience, from people who know what really works." Key contributors to the manual include the North Dakota Biocontrol Steering Committee, the North Dakota State University departments of Entomology and Plant Sciences, the USDA-APHIS PPQ/Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory in Bozeman (Montana), the North Dakota Weed Control Association and the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney (Montana). Single copies of the manual can be downloaded as a PDF from the TEAM Leafy Spurge web site at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/infoproducts. The manual is also available from state departments of agriculture, state USDA-APHIS PPQ offices, state BLM offices and other sources in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Anyone interested in obtaining multiple copies of the manual for distribution at field days or similar activities should contact TEAM Leafy Spurge by e-mailing a request to teamls[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov, or by writing to TEAM Leafy Spurge, USDA-ARS NPARL, 1500 N. Central Ave., Sidney, MT 59270.
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