Statewide Giant Hogweed Eradication Program to Continue this Summer

USDA, PDA Successfully Working to Eliminate Poisonous Weed

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania is winning its battle against Giant Hogweed, a noxious, invasive weed that can cause blistering and scarring on the skin of susceptible people, but more work remains.

"Nearly 80 percent of the known Giant Hogweed sites have been eradicated, thanks to the effective teamwork between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, our state agriculture department, and property owners statewide," said state Agriculture Secretary George Greig. "While we must remain vigilant, the goal of completely eradicating the invasive weed is achievable."

Since 1985, more than 500 Giant Hogweed sites have been confirmed in Pennsylvania, with more than half located in Erie County. Through August, field staff will address 133 active sites in Blair, Butler, Carbon, Crawford, Erie, Huntingdon, Lebanon, McKean, Potter, Susquehanna, Venango, Warren and Wayne counties.

Giant Hogweed is spread naturally by seeds from a flowering plant, which can be windblown and scattered or carried by water. The ability of the seeds to remain alive in soil for many years makes prevention of seed production critical.

Total eradication requires three years of repeated mechanical and chemical treatments to exhaust the seed bank at each location.

Residents with suspected sightings of a new plant population or an active pre-existing site are asked to call the Giant Hogweed Hotline at 1-877-464-9333. Agriculture department field staff will schedule a site inspection.

Brochures to aid in the identification of the plant are available at Department of Agriculture website at www.agriculture.state.pa.us under "Plant and Animal Health."  For more information, contact the department's Noxious Weed Program Manager Melissa Bravo at 717-787-7204.

Media contact: Jean Kummer, 717-787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture