Bag O` Woad, War on Weeds - Utah State University Extension

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bag O’ Woad, War on Weeds
Morgan County, Utah - April 15, 2015
Morgan Conservation District to host the annual Bag O’ Woad program in May.
Dyer’s woad is a non-palatable, aggressive weed that produces chemicals which inhibit growth of beneficial
plants. It has established itself across thousands of acres of western rangeland where the Bureau of Land
Management estimates that it has reduced grazing by 38% since 1985. It is now widespread in Morgan County,
as well as in twenty four other counties of the state.
Bag O’ Woad is a program designed to educate residents about the seriousness of dyer’s woad and other
noxious and invasive weeds, and to rally community support for noxious weed control efforts in the county.
There are three parts to the program: picking up an official program bag(s); bagging the woad; and collecting
the bounty. Morgan County youth, ages 6 through 18, are invited to earn a $10 bounty for each 40 pound bag of
dyer’s woad collected.
Picking up Your Bag and Program Registration:
Morgan County youth must first obtain official program bags to participate. Bags are available at the Morgan
County Road Shop on 380 North Industrial Road Wednesday, May 6th, 13th or 20th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Each
participant is allowed two of a limited number of official program bags, distributed on a first come first serve
basis.
Bagging Your Woad:
All dyer’s woad must be collected within Morgan County, filling the official bag with 40 pounds of dyer’s
woad. A minimum of a two inch root is required on all plants. Keep in mind that the wetter the soil, the easier
the plants are to pull or dig. WEAR GLOVES - the weed’s sap can be an irritant.
Collecting your Bounty:
Bring filled bags to the Morgan County Road Shop to collect the bounty. Bag collection begins on Wednesday,
May 13th and again on Wednesday, May 20th and 27th between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Only official program
bags will be accepted. The signature of the youth and a responsible adult is required at the time payment is
made.
To learn more about this program or Morgan County Noxious Weeds contact the Morgan Conservation District
at 801-629-0570 or email loralie.cox@uacd.org
The program receives support from the Morgan Conservation District, Morgan County, Farm Bureau, Jay and
Wess Wardell Fur Farm, 1st Bank, J Reverse J Cattle Company, Diamond D Ranch, Geneva Rock, and USU
Extension.