Plants

After a successful summer treatment plan, Mesa County and the city of Grand Junction are celebrating an 85% reduction in Japanese beetle populations. Found in the city of Grand Junction in the summer of 2022, Mesa County declared the beetle a public nuisance species in March 2023. Joined by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), CSU Extension, and the City of Grand Junction, Mesa County has worked to eradicate the species, which is a threat to both crops and ornamental plants on the Western Slope. 

Recall of the herbicide known as Dacthal, also known as Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, continues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency order to halt the use of the herbicide Dacthal, also known as Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings.

Effective immediately, no person or business in any state may use, distribute, sell, offer for sale, hold for sale, ship, deliver for shipment, or receive and (having so received) deliver or offer to deliver to any person any pesticide product containing DCPA.

Starting July 1, registered pesticide applicators in the turf and ornamental category will be required to give notice when the property they are treating is abutting to or within 250 feet from the property of a person on the Pesticide Sensitive Registry.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is sending $110,000 to Mesa County to evict an unwanted visitor: the Japanese beetle.

This invasive pest, which was discovered within the city limits of Grand Junction in the summer of 2022, can cause great damage to both ornamental horticulture and agricultural operations on the Western slope. Japanese beetles feed on more than 300 species of plants, many of which are essential to western Colorado’s agricultural economy, including peaches, grapes, sweet corn, and many other ornamental plants in urban spaces, including turf grass.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations across Colorado to fill six vacancies on the Hemp Advisory Committee (HAC). The committee provides advice to the Commissioner by reviewing proposed rules and recommending new rules or changes to existing rules.

“Colorado has been a pioneer in the hemp industry since 2013 and the Hemp Advisory Committee consists of leaders and innovators who have an active role in advising the Department by providing invaluable industry feedback,” said Brian Koontz, Hemp Program manager.

The HAC is looking for members representing: