ELECTION TIME
Leonard Trujillo, Dale Archuleta, Larry Maston
Troublesome Weed of the Month
Class B
Russian Knapweed
Acroptilon repens'
Herbaceous perennial that invades pastures, degraded croplands, alfalfa fields, rangeland, roadsides, riparian areas, and irrigation ditches
ALSO KNOWN AS: Hardheads, Russian starthistle, Turkestan thistle
STEMS/LEAVES: Numerouse branching stems (1-3 ft tall); lower leaves (1.5-4 in. long) alternate and have lobed or wavy margins; upper leaves are linear or lanceolate; leaves are green to light green and DO NOT form wings on stems; leaves and stems coverd with dense gray hairs
FLOWERS: Flower heads (0.25-0.5 in. diameter) round or hemispheric with pink, lavender, or white flowers; below flowers are numerous green, papery bracts
ROOTS: Extensive creeping root system; roots have a brown to black scaly appearance, especially near soil surface
REPRODUCTION: Vegetative and seed reproduction; most reproduction is from buds on creeping perennial
MANAGEMENT DO'S AND DON'TS :
- Prevention and early detection are essential ; large infestations are extremely difficult to control
- Prevention and Maintenance of a healthy plant community are the best management methods
- Herbicides are effective
NMSU: Troublesome Weeds of New Mexico College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University
What's Happening on The Ditch?
We have been working hard to clear the ditch bank. Great Job Guys!
Please work with your neighbors to keep all lateral lines functional. Lateral lines are property owners responsibility to maintain. It helps to form an association.
Water is a precious commodity
New Mexico's very viability as a state is dependent on its scant water supply. It will be up to all of us to help keep our rivers healthy , our reservoirs from shrinking and our cities and farmers with water. Please do your part and conserve when you can. Work together as a community to insure we have less stressed crops and healthy stock. Irrigation systems