Black Henbane

Weed Control Program

Weed control is a top priority for the County of Newell.
Our Weed Control Program focuses on the prevention, control, and eradication of Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Weeds throughout the County. These invasive plants pose serious risks to agriculture, native ecosystems, and land health. Early action and ongoing management are key to keeping our landscapes strong and sustainable.

Overview

To ensure our program is effective and proactive the County employs one (1) Environmental Services Supervisor and four (4) Vegetation Management Technicians. Our Vegetation Management Technicians inspect for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds and record their locations in our weed database, they then work with the landowner to help find the best possible solution for eradicating the weed. We record the locations in our database so we can continue to monitor the populations in following years to gauge the effectiveness of the strategies we implement for control.

The Director of Agricultural Services, Manager of Agricultural Services, Environmental Services Supervisor, Agricultural Technicians, and Vegetation Management Technicians are always available to our land owners to offer technical assistance, weed identification services and control program assistance to all landowners within the County of Newell. In cases where weed control is not being done by residents, enforcement under the Weed Control Act of Alberta must be undertaken by law.

Weed control is also implemented by ASB staff on roadsides and municipal owned properties. Weed control along County roadsides is a big priority due to the following reasons:

To allow clear site lines to signs and intersections and make sure wildlife crossing roadways are visible
To reduce snow accumulation, promote road drainage and drying
To facilitate snow removal
To control noxious and prohibited noxious weeds which threaten agriculture

The objective of our roadside spraying program is to eliminate trees, shrubs, and weeds that create problems while leaving a thick growth of herbaceous vegetation to prevent erosion and enhance aesthetic appeal. Methods of weed control are biological control, mechanical control (mowing) and chemical spraying.

The Agricultural Service Board also implements many other weed control programs along the rivers and public lands within the County, within our urban centers and along the CPR tracks.

If you have any questions or think you may have come across a noxious weed, please feel free to contact us at 403-794-2293 or by email wiebeau@newellmail.ca, we are always happy to lend our assistance.

Downy Brome: A Serious Threat to Our County’s Grasslands

Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive, noxious weed that poses a significant threat to the County of Newell’s agricultural lands and native grasslands. Designated as a noxious weed in Alberta since 2010 and regulated locally since 1994, Downy Brome outcompetes native vegetation, increases wildfire risk, and spreads rapidly through contaminated equipment and soil movement.

Why is Downy Brome a Problem?

Early Growth & Competitive Advantage: Downy Brome germinates in fall or early spring, establishing before native grasses and crops. This gives it a competitive advantage, reducing forage availability for livestock and wildlife.
Fire Hazard: By late June, the plant dries out completely, becoming highly flammable and contributing to the risk of wildfires.
Difficult to Eradicate: Once established, Downy Brome spreads aggressively, making long-term management essential to prevent its dominance.

How Does Downy Brome Spread?

Downy Brome is primarily spread through:

Contaminated cultivation equipment
Uncleaned mowing equipment
Haying operations that transport seed
Soil transfer from infested areas

How to Control Downy Brome

Landowners are required under Alberta’s Weed Control Act to take active measures to control the spread of Downy Brome. Here are the best management strategies:

1. Mechanical Control

Hand-pulling is effective for small patches but must be done before seed maturity.
Mowing helps suppress growth when timed correctly—after the seed head develops but before seeds reach the milk stage (when they turn a silver hue). Ensure mowers are cleaned to avoid spreading seeds to new areas.

2. Chemical Control

Non-selective herbicides can be applied in late fall (if Downy Brome has already emerged) or early spring before seeding.
In-crop herbicide options exist but are limited. Identifying infestations early allows for targeted applications.

3. Cultural & Preventative Control

Soil disturbance can help manage growth, but it should be done carefully to avoid spreading seeds.
Equipment sanitation is critical—always clean tillage, mowing, and haying equipment before moving between fields.
Competitive planting of perennial grasses can help suppress Downy Brome by reducing available space and resources.

Get Help Managing Downy Brome

The County’s Agricultural Service Board is here to assist landowners with identifying and managing Downy Brome. If you suspect an infestation or need guidance on control methods, contact us at 403-362-3266.

By working together, we can reduce Downy Brome’s impact and protect our county’s valuable agricultural lands.

Download our Downy Brome one-pager here > Prevent the Spread: Your Guide to Managing Downy Brome in the County of Newell

Noxious Weeds

Common Baby's Breath

The noxious class lists those weeds which, although detrimental to production or the general environment, are so widespread that eradication is not practical. Therefore, we encourage and enforce control to prevent further spread.

In the case of noxious weeds, the Vegetation Management Technicians are to inventory the designated species and map the locations. The Vegetation Management Technicians shall then notify the Director of Agricultural Services of the problem. Then, at their discretion, a notice may be issued, or some other approach to controlling the noxious weeds will be determined. Typically this will involve reaching a mutual understanding on the action. However, if the inspector(s) choose to issue a notice, the recipient is obligated to carry out the directives of the notice.

For more information on these weeds, please check out the fact sheets from the Alberta Invasive Plants Network.

Prohibited Noxious Weeds

The weeds in the prohibited noxious class are those which are known to pose an intolerable economic threat to production, recreation or the general environment, and the degree of infestation is such that eradication is physically and economically feasible.

When prohibited noxious weeds are involved, the Vegetation Management Technicians are obligated to inventory the designated species, to map the locations and issue a notice to destroy. The Vegetation Management Technicians are to advise the Director of Agricultural Services and then monitor the site regularly to ensure that the directives of the notice are carried out. If there is non‑compliance, they are obligated to contact the Director of Agricultural Services so as to initiate legal action or cause the work to be done and have all costs charged against the land involved. Further, continued surveillance by the Vegetation Management Technicians can be anticipated for several years to ensure that there are no recurrences of growth of the weed.

The Weed Control Act stipulates that a person shall destroy a prohibited noxious weed that is on land the person owns or occupies.

For more information on these weeds, please check out the fact sheets from the Alberta Invasive Plants Network.

Autumn Olive

Big Head Knapweed

Common Barberry

Common Buckthorn

Common St John's Wort

Diffuse Knapweed

Dodder

Dyer's Woad

Eurasian Water Milfoil

Flowering Rush

Garlic Mustard

Giant Hogweed

Giant Knotweed

Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Nodding Thistle

Orange Hawkweed

Pale Yellow Iris

Plumeless Thistle

Puncturevine

Purple Loosestrife

Red Bartsia

Rush Skeletonweed

Russian Knapweed

Salt Cedar

Saltlover

Scentless Chamomile

Kochia Control “Lunch’n’Learn” Series

This three part Kochia Control Webinar Series was organized by Specials Areas, the County of Vulcan, and the County of Newell with Chinook Applied Research Association.

Part 1: Ag Fieldman Jesse Williams and Deanna Heather, “Why Now? The Story Behind Kochia’s Proliferation & the Challenges Facing Producers & Municipalities” (March 5 2024) > Episode 1: The Biology

Part 2: Jason Lindgreen, “Managing Kochia from Fenceline to Fenceline and Everywhere in Between” (March 12 2024) >

Episode 2: Managing Kochia from Fenceline to Fenceline and Everywhere in Between

Part 3: Adriane Good, “Kochia as Feed: Tips, Tricks, and What it May Mean to Your Operation in the Future” (March 19 2024) > Episode 3: Using Kochia as Feed