By Sara StrongNoxious weeds are always a sore point with farmers. It’s made even worse when they see federal property playing host to the enemy. Rock County Weed Inspector Doug Bos sent notice to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that 10 noxious weeds on its property, known as Brandenburg’s Touch the Sky Prairie, must be controlled. Township official Darrell Hoeck said this is the second year Mound and Springwater Townships have had to watch weeds flourish there, while trying to enforce weed ordinances with local farmers. "My first point is, they should set an example for the rest of us, and it’s the worst example I’ve seen," Hoeck said. "Some of those thistles are so big you could sit in their shade and eat lunch." Touch the Sky is a project that’s returning almost 800 acres to natural prairie, and that takes some time. Hoeck said, "This business of taking tillable land out of production is something I disagree with, too."The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has increased its workers on the Rock County property to try to catch up. But on almost 800 acres, it’s difficult to mow and spray without falling behind. Bos said, "Once the weeds go to seed, they propagate more and more of the same weeds. ... They are trying to make headway now, and they may spray by plane in the fall, which will allow the native flowers to live and kill the thistles." Todd Hauge, assistant manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office, said, "We really have the same goal, which is to get rid of the weeds."Hauge said he is working on regional and federal approval to spray in the fall.He also points out that there is just one tenth of 1 percent of native tallgrass prairie remaining, and that projects such as these are important.Most of Touch the Sky Prairie is in Mound Township. Hoeck, from Springwater, said he has contacted legislators to draw attention to the problem. "Let’s not wait until it’s too late to take care of it," he said.
