By Scout Nelson
In the winter of 2014, a staff member from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Noxious and Invasive Weed Program sparked the idea of a monthly educational column while watching the snowfall. This idea blossomed into the MDA’s Weed of the Month article series, which has since become a key component of their outreach efforts.
Initially aimed at increasing public knowledge about noxious weeds and the Noxious Weed Law, the series began with an article on "Finding and Reporting Noxious Weeds."
It has grown to cover various topics including plant identification, weed management techniques, success stories, biocontrol methods, toxic plants, and updates to the noxious weed list. Contributions have come from various MDA staff and guest authors from the University of Minnesota and other agencies.
Currently, the Weed of the Month has approximately 17,000 subscribers, consisting mainly of county agricultural inspectors, media outlets, and direct subscribers, with the latter making up the majority.
The articles are widely republished across platforms such as Master Gardeners newsletters and have spurred numerous radio and TV interviews, increasing their reach.
This series has consistently been among the top-performing posts on the MDA’s Facebook page. Looking ahead, the MDA plans to expand its reach by incorporating the series into a new podcast named “Smarty Plants,” set to launch in August.
Over the years, the Weed of the Month has evolved from a simple educational column to a robust platform that encourages community involvement in reporting and managing invasive species, thereby enhancing the MDA’s overall strategies in weed management.
The program's success highlights the power of consistent and engaging public education in tackling agricultural and environmental challenges.
Photo Credit -minnesota-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, General