Weed DepartmentBonneville County Weed Department
Mission Statement
The goal of this program is to implement County and State weed ordinances. We will accomplish this by achieving the most effective Vegetation Management Program for the preservation of Bonneville County’s valuable property by utilizing Education, Mechanical control, Biological control, Cultural control, and Chemical control for the betterment of Bonneville County and its neighbors. The effectiveness of this program is due to the authority and cooperation of the County Commissioners.
|
Mailing Address: |
Office: (208) 529-1397
|
|
Physical Address: |
Jeffrey Pettingill Weed Superintendent |
Full Time Staff
 |
 |
 |
| Jeffrey Pettingill Weed Control Superintendent This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Matt Stanger Assistant Weed Control Superintendent This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Lynn Shuldberg
Office Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Experienced Seasonal Weed Warriors:
Anthony P.
Casey K.
Nick B.
Jordan A.
Employment Opportunities
Bonneville County is always hiring seasonal employees for Summer help. Wages typically start at $8.00 with a $1.00 pay raise upon receiving a ISDA Professional Applicators License.
For a job application with Bonneville County Weed Control Department click on the link below and fill out the General Application. Turn in the application to Bonneville County Weed Control Office or Bonneville County’s Human Resources Office.
Bonneville County Job Application
For further career opportunities visit the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaigns website by clicking on the link below.
Career Opportunities
Rules and Regulations
For many years there has been a push for laws supporting weed control. One of the first enactment of this kind of legislation was in 1975 as the Federal Noxious Weed Act (FIFRA) through many changes in the legislature we now have the Plant Protection Act of 2000 (which suspended FIFRA). Each of these acts enabled the government to take a stand against noxious weeds to protect public health, livestock, and the lands of the United States.
Weeds are determined as NOXIOUS by the Secretary of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and/or a designated person from each state. This individual will declare a weed NOXIOUS by its potential harm to people, crop production, livestock, and property.
In Idaho we have a State Noxious Weed Law which governs (via legislation) the enforcement and control efforts as well as outlining obligations of each county in Idaho.
For information on the State Noxious Weed Law click the link below.
Bonneville County Nuisance Weed Ordinance
Within Bonneville County we utilize the State Weed Law as well as a Nuisance Weed Ordinance. The Nuisance Weed Ordinance specifies that weeds are not to exceed 10 inches in height. Bonneville county may send enforcement letters to the owners of property who are in violation of this ordinance instructing them to mow, till, or disk their property.
Each county is allowed to make there own weed ordinances which may include weeds deemed as a threat for their county or a nuisance weed ordinance for their county. This is accomplished through action of the County Commission.
For information on contract mowing contact our office and we will supply you with contact information for custom mowers, that we are aware of, from this area.
Weed Identification
A weed warrior maintains and preserves the land through many different types of weed management. Always striving to use the right tool for the right job. In order to find the right tool for the right job a weed warrior must first identify what weed they are trying to control.
There are 64 noxious weeds in the state of Idaho. Each weed is listed under 1 of 3 different categories (EDRR, Control, and Containment).
EDRR (Early Detection Rapid Response)
Noxious and potentially Noxious weeds that may not be in Bonneville County and require the most attention.
EDRR Weed found in Bonneville County is Policeman’s helmet.
Control
Noxious weeds that have a minimal presence in Bonneville County and it is believed that these weeds can be removed within a few years and monitored thereafter.
Control Weeds in Bonneville County are Black henbane, Bohemian knotweed, Buffalobur, Dyer’s woad, Japanese knotweed, Musk thistle, Perennial sowthistle, Russian knapweed, and Small bugloss.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dyers Woad | Hounds Tounge | Musk Thistle | Small Bugloss | Spotted Knapweed |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Puncturevine | Leafy Spurge | Whitetop | Purple Loosestrife |
Containment
Weeds that pose the greatest economical threat to property. These weeds have a strong presence in the county and the intention may not be to eradicate all patches, but to contain the weeds in their current location and help landowners manage them.
Containment weeds in Bonneville County are Canada thistle, Curlyleaf pondweed, Dalmation toadflax, Diffuse knapweed, Field bindweed, Houndstongue, Jointed goatgrass, Leafy spurge, Oxeye daisy, Perennial pepperweed, Plumeless thistle, Poison hemlock, Puncturevine, Purple loosestrife, Rush skeletonweed, Saltcedar, Scotch thistle, Spotted knapweed, White bryony, Whitetop, and Yellow toadflax.
Nuisance Weeds
Nuisance weeds are weeds that Bonneville County will control if they are becoming a problem for the lands of the County.
Some Nuisance weeds are Chicory, Common Tansy, Horseweed, Mayweed Chamomile, and St. Johnswort.
Link for a Weed of the Week webpage written by Jeffrey Pettingill coming soon!
Services Avalible
Weed investigation/consultation
When you have a weed problem we can investigate the area as well as give advice on how to fix the problem as well as prevent it from happening again.
Rental Program
You can rent equipment to help in your own weed management programs.
Rental equipment includes:
Equiptment Price 3 Gallon Backpack $5.00 20 Gallon ATV tank $15.00 per day 200 Gallon Slide-in-tank $20.00 per day 300 Gallon Slide-in-tank $20.00 per day 200 Gallon trailer $20.00 per day Atchinson No-till Drill $45.00 Per day 2 10 Gallon Horse Mount Sprayer $10.00 per day Contract Spraying
Typical costs for herbicide application plus materials.
0-5 acres—$12.00 per acre or $60.00 minimum
6-10 acres— $10.00 per acre
10 plus acres— $8.50 per acre
Sterilant— $50.00 minimum
$25.00 per applicator plus $25.00 per vehicle
$15.00- $25.00 for cost of herbicide
Projects
Weed Warrior Workshop
We host a training workshop for all applicators in Eastern Idaho. This will be a two or three day workshop for current pesticide license holders as well as training for new applicators. Presenters will be Chemical and Equipment representatives along with professional weed managers.
Swan Valley Project
We identify problems areas, contact landowners, and assist with the weed control efforts. The programs boundaries are from Wyoming/Idaho border to the top of Granite Hill, From Teton/Bonneville County line to the top of Fall Creek. While all noxious weeds are our target there are a few weeds that this program is specifically interested in controlling. These weeds are Canada thistle, Dalmatian toadflax, Diffuse knapweed, Houndstongue, Leafy spurge, Musk thistle, and Spotted knapweed.
Grays Lake Project
This project is funded by the Highland CWMA and includes all the landowners in the Grays Lake area. While we are on the look out for all noxious weeds there are specific weeds that we are also watching out for in this area. These weeds are Canada thistle, Houndstongue, Spotted knapweed, Whitetop/Hoary cress, and Yellow toadflax.
Dan Creek Project
This project works with landowners along the Dan Creek Drainage. Looking to help control weed so as not to create problems for agriculture and rangeland properties. While we will be looking for all noxious weeds we are also specifically looking for Black henbane, Canada thistle, Houndstongue, and Musk thistle.
Raildogs
This project is a collaboration of weed control efforts along the short line railroads in Easter Idaho. WATCO provides the truck and each county provides an applicator to spot and treat noxious weeds along the short-track railroad.
Bio-Control
This project involves using insects as well as animals to help manage noxious weeds. This will only work on plants that have listed Biological controls agents. While this is not a “silver bullet” it is an additional tool in the weed management toolbox. Preferably used along side a herbicide treatment.
Mapping
Mapping involve the use of Global Positioning System or GPS units to map the location of noxious weeds in the county. By mapping these noxious invaders we will be able to see the distribution of noxious weeds in our area helping us know areas that are in need of our attention. In order to be effective at managing the weeds in our county we need to know what is out there and mapping helps us accomplish this goal.
Links
An important tool in the weed management toolbox is our connections. Click on any of the links below to see the websites of other helping hands in the fight against noxious weeds. Also where would we be without our educators; so take a look at the schools and programs that are affiliated with the fight against noxious weeds.
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Eastern Idaho Professional Technical High School |
