WEED SCIENCE
Department G - Section 751
At least 15 of the specimens must represent this year’s work. For assistance identifying plants, participants can use the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains (1994) or Weeds of the Great Plains (2003).
Books—Classes 1-2
Plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 14 inches x 14 iniches. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear cover.
Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, label, neatness, and conformity to exhibit requirements.
Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet:
1) Scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority
2) Common name
3) County of collection
4) Collection date
5) Collector’s name
6) Personal collection number, indicating order that plants were collected in your personal collection
7) Other information depending on class selected, i.e., noxious, life form
This information should be typed or printed neatly.
EXAMPLE:
Scientific name: Abutilon theophrasti Medic.
Common name : Velvetleaf
County of collection: Hall County
Collection date: 6 July 2016
Collector’s name: Dan D. Lion
Collection number: 3
Life cycle: Annual
Displays—Class 3 The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display., The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 28 inch x 28 inch on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled.
Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, address, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Refer to scoresheet SF259.
Each display must have a one page essay explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used.The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the exhibitor’s name outside.
CLASSES
*1 Weed Identification Book -A collection of a minimum of 15 plant mounts including at least two of the following prohibited noxious weeds (Canada thistle, musk thistle, plumeless thistle, salt cedar, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, diffuse knapweed, or spotted knapweed, bohemian knotweed, giant knotweed sericea lespedeza or phragmites), and at least five weeds that are a problem primarily in lawns.
*2 Life Span Book - - A collection of seven perennials, one biennial, and seven annual weeds.
*3. Weed Display Book - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about weeds, such as interesting information about a weed species, the effects of weed control, herbicide resistant weeds, what makes a weed a weed, or used for weeds.
*Denotes that entries are eligible for State Fair after earning that privilege at the Dakota~Thurston Fair.