RALEIGH – Following the discovery of the federally listed noxious weed cogongrass in northern Scotland County, plant pest regulators will hold a workshop June 2 to help residents identify the grass to be able to report it and help prevent its spread.
The free, hands-on workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will provide participants the opportunity to see the plant during its flowering stage, help them learn how to identify it and offer discussions with weed control specialists about various control options. The workshop will be held at the cogongrass site in Marston.
“This is the fourth time cogongrass has been found in North Carolina, and our goal is to stay out in front of this noxious weed to keep it from becoming established here,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It is important for people to be able to recognize this weed, so it can be identified and addressed early on.”
Staff with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Plant Industry Division and the N.C. Forest Service have previously eradicated isolated stands of the weed in Martin, Pender and Stanly counties. This newly discovered half-acre site, the largest ever found in the state, appears to have been growing for at least three years, based on its size, said Bridget Lassiter, a weed specialist with the department.
Cogongrass is considered one of the top 10 weeds in the world, and spreads through seed and rhizomes. The invasive weed competes with native plants, grasses and trees, choking them out with its dense root system. In addition, the grass is not palatable to wildlife because of its high silica content and, because of its density, does not make good habitat for small animals or birds. It is a serious concern for land managers working with forestry, roadsides and utility rights-of-way.
Cogongrass also burns very hot, so wildfires or even controlled burns can get out of hand quickly. The hot fires can also damage young tree stands, resulting in poor establishment and pest damage, Lassiter said.
Anyone interested in attending the workshop is asked to register through EventBrite by searching the site for Cogongrass Workshop. Those with questions or without Internet access can contact Lassiter at 919-707-3749 or email at bridget.lassiter@ncagr.gov.
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