Weed control group

Weed control group

slates annual sprayer schools

BISMARCK –The North Dakota Weed Control Association will conduct four sprayer schools during the week of May 25-31.

“Pesticide applicators can be recertified for spraying right-of-ways by participating in one of these schools,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The schools are open to commercial, government and private applicators.”

Personnel from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, North Dakota State University, North Dakota Parks and Recreation, Crop Production Services, and Dow Chemical Co. will give presentations on noxious weeds, weed identification and sprayer calibration.

Commercial applicators who are being recertified in the right-of-way category must attend the entire school.

The schools are scheduled for 8 a.m. (local time) at the following dates and locations. Preregistration with the local contact is required.

Tuesday, May 27 – Stark County Weed Control Shop, 52½ 30th Ave W, Dickinson. Local contacts: Diane Allmendinger at weed@ndsupernet.com or 701-590-0404, or Kaye Jessen at Kaye.Jessen@ndsu.edu or 701-456-7665.

Wednesday, May 28 – Mountrail County South Complex, 8103 61st St NW, Stanley. Local contact: Jim Hennessy at James.Hennessy@ndsu.edu or 701-628-2835.

Thursday, May 29 – Ramsey County Court House, 524 4th Ave NE, Devils Lake. Local contact Derrill Fick at wcweeds@ndak.net or 701-852-1970.

Friday, May 30 – Stutsman County Weed Control Shop, 1508 4th St NW, Jamestown. Local contact: Ron Manson at rmanson@nd.gov or 701-251-1261 or 701-320-4512.

The schools are sponsored by the NDWCA, Stark County Weed Board, Mountrail County Weed Board, Ramsey County Weed Board, Stutsman County Weed Board and DOW Chemical.

Therapeutic Horsemanship

Instructor Certification Set

North Dakota State University and the Riding on Angels’ Wings (ROAW) therapeutic horseback riding program will co-host a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) registered instructor certification July 19-20.

This event is for anyone who has completed phase one of the PATH Intl. registered instructor certification process or is retesting for certification. The certification will be held at ROAW near Felton, Minn. Certification will begin at 4 p.m. July 19 and 9 a.m. July 20.

PATH Intl. promotes excellence in the field of equine-assisted activities and therapies through instructor education, center accreditation, educational opportunities and advocacy work. NDSU partners with ROAW and PATH Intl. to offer minor and certificate programs in therapeutic horsemanship.

The registration deadline for the certification is June 12. The cost is $375. The fee includes lunch and snacks.

A downloadable registration form is available on the NDSU Equine Science Center website, http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/equinescience, under Upcoming Events.

For additional information, contact Erika Berg, assistant professor of equine studies at NDSU, at erika.berg@ndsu.edu or (701) 231-9611.

North Dakota Department of

Health Urges Caution during Tick Season

BISMARCK, N.D. –The arrival of spring and warmer weather brings people outdoors to enjoy activities such as gardening, hiking or camping. The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) encourages people to take precautions against tick bites when outdoors.

“The key to preventing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, is to avoid tick bites and find and removeticks promptly,” said Alicia Lepp, epidemiologist with the Department of Health’s Division of Disease Control. “Areas that are heavily wooded or have tall grass or brush are more likely to be infested with ticks, especially between April and September, with the highest risk of disease transmission occurring during the warmer months.”

The NDDoH offers the following tips to help reduce the chance of ticks making contact with your skin:

Wear light-colored clothing to make the ticks easier to see.

Wear long pants, and tuck the legs into your socks or boots.

Keep your shirt tucked in.

Apply insect repellent that contains DEET to your clothes and exposed skin. Always follow label directions. (Repellents that contain permethrin should be used only on clothing.)

“One of the best ways to prevent tick bites is to avoid habitats where ticks can be found,” Lepp said. “However, if these tick-infested areas cannot be avoided, use insect repellent to reduce the risk of disease. It is also important to remove and wash all clothing as soon possible and check carefully for ticks. Use tweezers to remove any ticks that have attached to your body.”

According to Lepp, the best way to remove a tick is to use tweezers to grasp it as closely to the skin as possible and gently pull upward with a steady, even pressure until it is free. Avoid crushing the tick during removal. Make sure to wash your hands and the site of tick attachment with soap and water after removal.

In 2013, the NDDoH reported 29 cases of Lyme disease, eight of anaplasmosis, two of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, three of erhlichiosis, and one of babesiosis. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia are transmitted by the bite of an infected dog tick, which is the most common tick found in North Dakota. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are diseases that are associated with the bite of a deer tick, which has been identified in the northeastern region of North Dakota.

The most common symptoms of tick-borne diseases include fever and chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain. Distinctive rashes may also develop. In Lyme disease, a circular rash called erythema migrans may appear 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. Rocky Mountain spotted fever may cause a rash two to five days after fever, which will look like small, flat, pink non-itchy spots on the wrists, forearms, and ankles that can spread to the trunk. Tularemia can cause a skin ulcer at the site of the tick bite.

Early detection of tick-borne diseases is important to prevent potentially severe complications, so people should seek medical care if they develop symptoms suggestive of a tick-borne disease after spending time outdoors.

For more information on tick-borne diseases and tick bite prevention, call Alicia Lepp, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.2378 or visit www.ndhealth.gov/disease/tickborne.

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