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Western Goats Beard/ Yellow Salsify

Res #: 25-22M
Number: 25
Year: 2022
Midterm: Yes
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

WHEREAS ratepayers have expressed concerns that the Western Goat Beard/Yellow Salsify spreads and seeds all summer.

WHEREAS hand pulling or cutting via mower still leads to the spreading of seeds.

WHEREAS spraying a pasture with 2-4D leads to a period of approximately 40 days before cattle can return to the pasture.

WHEREAS Western Goat Beard/Yellow Salsify is classified as a noxious weed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.

WHEREAS declaring the Western Goat Beard/Yellow Salsify as a noxious weed would give the Weed Inspectors more clout to minimize the impact or harm that it produces.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Ministry of Agriculture to declare Western Goats Beard/Yellow Salsify as a noxious weed.

Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

January 18, 2023

Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius) is widespread across Saskatchewan but because it is spread easily by wind it qualifies to be designated as a Nuisance Weed under The Weed Control Act. Designation as a Nuisance Weed would allow a municipality to respond to complaints about this species. Meadow goat’s-beard (Tragopogon pratensis) is already listed as a Nuisance Weed but because it is not well distributed in Saskatchewan it would be appropriate to change its designation from Nuisance Weed to a Noxious Weed. The Minister’s Order Designating Prohibited, Noxious and Nuisance Weeds is currently under review and is planned to be updated in time for use in 2024 and these changes will be considered. As a note of process, the municipality sponsoring this resolution has not appointed a weed inspector since 2019. This appointment is required to enforce any weeds under The Weed Control Act. 

The Honourable David Marit – Minister of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture