Cattails a problem for some farmers

Farmers have alot to worry about when it comes to planting their crops Sarah Gustin tells us about some of the steps being taken to make sure those crops aren t bothered by any unwanted pests It might not be the plant but the bird that goes along with it that is the problem Phil Mastrangelo US Department of Ag Wildlife Even leaving thirty percent of the cattail acres out there still harbors a large number of birds In past years to help control blackbirds seventy percent of a cattail marsh has been sprayed Now Federal Wildlife officials say they will be spraying 100 percent of the infested marsh Phil Mastrangelo US Department of Ag Wildlife There s alot of habit out there that we aren t even touching Cattail marshes are the choice of habitat for blackbirds and blackbirds choice of food-is sunflowers Larry Kleingartner National Sunflower Association Historically USDA has said about 10 million dollars a year But that was when prices were 10 cents a pound Right now prices are at 30 cents a pound so you can do the mathematics so obviously there are a series pest a very serious pest Mastrangelo says there are more than 5-hundred-thousand acres of cattail marshes in the state He says they hope to spray eight-thousand of those acres Phil Mastrangelo US Department of Ag Wildlife Keep in mind the 100 percent treatment will not be on areas that enrolled in CRP or enrolled in fish and wildlife service easement lands This is strictly on private property which is not enrolled in anytype of a conservation program Growers can apply to have their land sprayed Larry Kleingartner National Sunflower Association Individual losses can be significant and that is where we want to key those spraying the wetlands into those areas where the damage is the highest Producers interested in spraying their marshes can download the application form on the National Sunflower Association website Reporting for KX News I am Sarah Gustin The herbicide is Environmental Protection Agency approved The Sunflower Association website is www sunflowernsa com