A hands-on course on the basics of invasive plant ecology and management for public and private landowners, managers, students and others will be offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte this summer. The three-day short course is June 26-28.

Leafy spurge is an invasive plant that threatens Nebraska's grazing lands and pastures.

It will include presentations, hands-on workshops, field visits and instructor-led discussions on the latest in invasive plant ecology and management. Steve Young, course moderator and Extension weed ecologist in North Platte, says the course will focus on learning the principles of integrated weed management, herbicide modes of action, plant identification, biological controls, using technology to analyze invasive plant species populations and instruction on using restoration practices for managing invasive plants.

"Last year was our first year for the short course," he adds. "We've modified it this year to address the most pressing subjects, like water use by invasive plants and developing a basic management strategy using GPS and mapping in a full day field exercise. West central Nebraska hosts many of the same invasive plant species found throughout North America, so it is an ideal location for the course."

Course instructors are from UNL as well as from across the country, including Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

Registration is $650 and includes course materials, meals and transportation to off-site locations. Registration deadline is May 1. The NAIPSC course is primarily for land managers, public and private landowners, researchers, policymakers and students.

Continuing education unit credit is available from the Society for Range Management and other sponsoring organizations and graduate students can earn up to two academic credits by completing online assignments following the course.

A course brochure, which includes daily course activities and registration details, is online at ipscourse.unl.edu. For additional questions, phone 308- 696-6740 or email [email protected].  

Course cosponsors include Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Society for Range Management, Center for Invasive Plant Management, Midwest Invasive Plant Network and others.