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- Workshops announced on fighting cogongrass in Florida Parishes
(09/17/18) BATON ROUGE, La. — Two workshops have been scheduled to look at ways to slow the progression of cogongrass, an invasive weed.
The workshops will be held at the LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station in Franklinton on Sept. 25 and at the Kentwood Co-op at 74219 Highway 1054 in Kentwood on Oct. 2. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The meetings are open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.
For forest landowners, cogongrass infestations can affect new tree growth and wildlife habitat plants, said Whitney Wallace, AgCenter forestry and wildlife resource agent.
Native to Asia, cogongrass has spread to every continent except Antarctica, and is regulated as a state and federal noxious weed.
“For cattle and hay farmers, cogongrass provides poor forage,” Wallace said. “Its sharp blades cut anything that tries to eat it.”
Cogongrass is prevalent in Washington, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes.
“Once it takes root, it is hard to kill,” Wallace said. “It’s not easy to get rid of cogongrass, so we want folks to be able to quickly identify it and use recommended control practices to help us decrease its presence here in southeast Louisiana.”
Herbicides are the best way to combat cogongrass, she said.
Personnel from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will also be at the workshops to help the public learn more about assistance available in controlling cogongrass.
For more information on the cogongrass workshops or to register, email Wallace at wwallace@agcenter.lsu.edu.