Comment from Land Owner
"Hi there, Several years ago our neighbors got some knapweed bugs from your program. They migrated onto our property and we have seen some amazing results. Our fields were about 50% knapweeds. This spring, for the first time, we have about only 1% knapweed in our fields. Those bugs are great! This is all bug control, we never spray any chemicals on our property. Now I go out and collect the bugs and give them to neighbors that live farther away. So far I've collected over 100 bugs. Thanks a bunch. ~ One happy land owner".
The bioagent program is an effort to expand the knowledge and availability of biological agents for the suppression of non-native noxious weeds in our area. This project uses USDA Water Quality, Forest Service, Colville Confederated Tribes, and Bureau of Indian Affairs project monies to provide for the education on, collection, redistribution, and monitoring of bioagents to fight noxious weeds in Ferry and Okanogan Counties, and the Colville Reservation. Dan Fagerlie is the project director with summer employees Chris Adams and Karenia Simpson working in and around the Colville Reservation. Their work is carried out in close cooperation with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel, as well as representatives of County Extension, County Weed Boards, State Weed Board, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, National Forest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Land Management, and private landowners. More information or Request Form .