This department provides a weed identification service. Inquiring parties can bring weed samples to the office or arrange for an on site property assessment to determine whether noxious or other aggressive weeds are present. On site inspections are scheduled in the order received and in coordination with existing schedules. If weed samples are brought to the office, they should be fresh and contain as much of the plant as possible.

The department's licensed staff is qualified to give recommendations. When a recommendation is made, it is important that we obtain as much information as possible on future land use plans, crop rotation, and/or available resources to combat the problem. Weed control recommendations can also be requested outlining long-term and short-term management plans. We strive to provide landowners with a variety of feasible options (See Weed Control Methods). The issue of cost vs. effectiveness is also taken into consideration.

The County’s Planning and Zoning Department has cooperatively agreed to assist noxious weed control efforts within the county. They require all owners who wish to divide their property to file a weed control form with the Weed Bureau. The objective is to create awareness by placing emphasis on landowner responsibility to initiate or maintain control measures, when warranted. The form is basic; it states that the weed department is aware the property owner has filed a request for a division. The owner then places a check mark in any of the control methods listed on the form. Mechanical, cultural, chemical, biological, and/or preventive measures are covered. Each applicant is given a noxious weed booklet. In rare instances, the weed department will send a letter of explanation to the Planning and Zoning Commission explaining concerns. Conditions may then be placed on the approval of the division or a more prescriptive management plan will be required.

It is common for this department to receive presentation requests from schools or other interest groups. We honor the opportunity, and are able to adjust our topic to suit a specific class or group interest.

Annually, this department works with the media (radio, television, and newspaper) to provide noxious weed announcements. Weed Watch articles are featured in the Times-News throughout the season, highlighting a specific weed or general awareness topic. As required by law, a general notice to property owners is published in the newspaper. The notice runs one time between March 1 and April 30th each year. It lists Idaho’s designated noxious weeds and emphasizes property owner’s responsibility to control.

This department maintains a variety of pamphlets on specific weeds, herbicide application, and more. The pamphlets are available free of charge. Books can be ordered, at cost, through this department upon request. The department has developed a mini-library of videos that are also available to checkout. Each year, the department participates in the Twin Falls County Fair by setting up an information booth. This booth is generally located in the Merchants #2 building at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds.

Landowners and agencies are notified of problems or concerns by telephone, in person, or letter. It is the intention of this department to bring weed problems to the attention of property owners in an effort to promote a response. Please refer to the review and notification section for more information.

The Board of County Commissioners may levy annually upon all taxable property of the County, a tax for prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds, to be collected and apportioned to the County Noxious Weed Fund. Such levies shall not exceed an amount of .0006 on each one hundred dollars of market value.

The Board of County Commissioners may utilize other methods or local options for the purpose of funding a coordinated noxious weed program. Any funds received by the County Control Authority shall be apportioned to the County Noxious Weed Fund and shall be accounted for in a manner as prescribed by the County Auditor.

The County fiscal year runs from October 1st - September 30th. The department's budget is made up of two parts: A Budget (salaries), and B Budget (operating expenses). The budget officer supplies fiscal work papers to the department in June. The request is figured by the Department Supervisor (Weed Control Superintendent) and returned. In August, a meeting is scheduled with the County Commissioners to review requests and explain any adjustments. By early September, the Commissioners will have made their amendments and hearings with the public scheduled.

Twin Falls County depends on property taxes for a primary source of revenue. The Board of County Commissioners fixes the tax rate as necessary for raising enough funds to meet the budget for the ensuing fiscal year. However, tax money is not the only source of funds to contribute to the noxious weed control budget. This department generates revenue from BLM (Boise and Burley District) and Idaho Transportation treatment agreements. Revenue is also collected from private property weed applications and sale of specialty herbicides.

Department expenditures are outlined by line item in the B Budget. Items include: county car expense, transportation private, hotel & meals, records & supplies, postage, equipment & repair, publication & printing, integrated vegetation management, and public service announcements.

Hourly labor and equipment rate for herbicide application is $45 plus the cost of chemical. A $12 mixing fee is included (per tank) to cover the use of surfactants and/or dye. Labor intensive applications, such as hard to reach rough range, canyon, and marshy waterway areas, an hourly labor and equipment rate of $65 is applied.

Invoices are mailed on completion of the job with the exception of BLM or other contractual work. Unpaid balances are assessed each month and re-billed. Any unpaid balance will be placed on individual tax roll. Unpaid charges are sent to the Treasurer's Office in late September. Extensions and payment arrangements can be made to accommodate landowners when necessary.

In the past, weed infestations have been mapped by using vehicle odometer readings and landmarks such as house and road numbers, rivers, creeks, lakes, canals, and trails. In February 2000, the department purchased a Global Positioning Unit (Geo3). The GPS unit is used in the field to collect data such as weed, stage, infestation size, and type of control method used. This type of mapping allows for less error in pin pointing property ownership and can be shared with agencies and other interested parties. ArcView software is used to display weed infestations for the entire county and/or surrounding counties. Mapping is an important part of planning treatment projects and recognizing dissemination patterns.

Weed Document Forms are used to establish individual client files. Information included in these files consists of: Weed(s) type, infested acreage, name, address, phone number, documented visits, phone calls, letters, notices, etc. Traveling index cards are also generated and maintained for quick reference. Information noted on a document form can be transferred to GIS or other similar systems to review dissemination pattern and map of the area.

Spray records are required any time a herbicide application is made. The record contains a GPS map containing the data and time of application, herbicide, rate, weather conditions, temperature, and surrounding vegetation. Our spray records also reflect labor and chemical charges.

Twin Falls County encompasses 1,235,064 acres. Ownership is as follows:

Department personnel need to acquire and maintain a Professional Applicators License from the ISDA. Licensing category requirements are laws & safety, agricultural herbicides, and aquatics. These categories allow the licensees who work for the Weed Bureau to consult and apply herbicides in all application areas, for example, right-of-ways, rangeland, pasture, industrial, crop, and aquatics. Continuing education credits are needed to keep licenses current. Credits are obtained by attending seminars, workshops, and various classes throughout the year.

Integrated weed management involves a decision-making process based on site-specific information. In many cases, property owners and land managers face their weed problem with limited resources: time, money, equipment, and/or lack of product knowledge. Our field staff is trained to assess each situation and make the best possible recommendation. It is important for us to be practical and to work within the means of individual(s). The following is a list of weed control methods. Integrating or choosing more than one method is usually the most effective approach.

Mechanical: hand pulling, hoeing, blading, grubbing, mowing, burning, flooding, mulching, cultivation, and other tillage operations
Cultural: competition, crop rotation, incorporating nurse or companion crops, nutrient and water management, and re-vegetation
Biological: insects, disease organisms, and livestock grazing
Chemical: herbicide use

This department does not provide a commercial spray service. Noxious weeds are treated with charge as part of assistant agreements with BLM and ITD. Private property treatments occur on a case by case basis. If a property owner fails to take control measures or enter into a management agreement with the county, the department will conduct the spraying and impose a charge.

Conducting a field demonstration is a great way to show the effectiveness of certain products on a specific noxious weed. Industry distributors often work with county weed departments to set up test plots for agency and public review. Applications are never made contrary to the herbicide label. In some cases, the department may contact a property owner or agency manager to obtain permission to conduct a demonstration plot. The distributor or other industry representative assumes all costs associated with the application.

A list of commercial applicators is kept on file with the Weed Bureau. It is available to property owners and businesses searching for a commercial weed control service. Commercial businesses are contacted annually to review and/or note updates in the weed control services they provide. There are instances where the department will hire commercial applicators or custom farmers to conduct enforcement and/or other contract work.

This department conducts property reviews to determine the presence of noxious weeds. Existing site reviews are prioritized by weed. Each weed has its own growth pattern and optimum window for timing its control. Seasonal weather and location play a big role.

1. Review current status - Are noxious weeds present? Does the property owner need to be contacted (1st letter, phone, in person)? Have the weeds already been treated?
2. Review after contact to assure treatment has been made by a specified date. Have arrangements been made for the department to treat? Is a control notice warranted?
3. Review treatment results - Owner treatment/Department treatment. Is it necessary to re-treat?

On site detection of noxious weed infested areas are noted while out in the field or viewing neighboring sites. Detection is handled in the same manner as complaints, through the review and notification process.

Complaints are viewed in the order received. We aim to have a complaint reviewed within 3 days from the date it’s brought to our attention. Public complaints are received by letter, in person, or by phone. It is not the policy of the department to reveal the name of those who file a complaint. We do, however, prefer to have the complainant’s name and phone number, so they can be contacted and informed of the department's findings and/or actions.

If a complaint is filed against an agency, department personnel will make contact with the agency. We encourage those filing a complaint to also contact the agency to discuss their concerns.

A weeds growth stage plays a role in determining how department personnel make contact with a private property owner. If time is running short and quick response is needed to control the weed, a letter will be sent giving the property owner 10 days from the date of the letter to take action. This is done to alleviate certified mail notifications that often take as long as 4 weeks to return.

Five-day control notices are sent after the property has been reviewed, contact made, and owner has failed to address the weed problem. The notice urges the owner to take action to control the weeds within five days. If action is not taken within a five-day period, the department will treat the weeds or hire a commercial service to conduct the treatment. The department will bill the owner for the work. The owner is given 60 days to pay the imposed charges. If the charges are not satisfied within 60 days, the amount will be placed on the tax rolls.

The County has the ability to quarantine any tract of land under its jurisdiction. If a quarantine is placed on a specific property, the landowner and/or operator within the described area is restricted from transporting, distributing, or otherwise removing any crop, animal, and/or machinery from the specified area. Continual review by the department is necessary to assure that transportation and distribution does not occur.