Texas County landowners are invited to a workshop Thursday on knapweed, which is now widespread across the area.
The plant is a perennial that is a prolific seed producer. Knapweeds begin as a rosette and then send up a seedhead with blooms the next year. The pest is highly invasive and crowds out desirable pasture and hay species. The plant actually exudes a toxin called catechin, which kills other plants within its root zone.
The 6 p.m. Aug. 28 meeting, which is sponsored by Texas County Soil and Water Conservation District, is at Raymondville’s community building.
Speakers are Will McClain, University of Missouri agronomist; Jeremy Hayward, MFA agronomist; Rep. Don Wells, who sponsored a bill to declare the knapweed noxious; and a representative of the county commission.
Registration is encouraged, but not required. Refreshments will be provided.
To learn more, call 417-967-2028 or 800-879-8894, ext. 4.