On methods of combating goldenrod

According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus of June 14, 2003 No. 205-3 "On the Plant World" (hereinafter referred to as the Law):

users of land plots in the field of dealing with objects of the plant world are obliged to carry out, in cases and in the manner established by legislation, work on regulating the spread and numbers of plants, the list of species of which is determined in accordance with part three of Article 26 of this Law (sub-paragraph ten of part one of Article 9 of the Law);

the regulation of the spread and numbers of plants must be carried out in ways that ensure the prevention of harm to other objects of the plant world and the preservation of their growing environment (part two of Article 26 of the Law).

In accordance with sub-paragraph 4.3 of paragraph 4 of the Regulation on the procedure for carrying out measures to regulate the spread and numbers of plant species whose spread and numbers are subject to regulation, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 7, 2016 No. 1002, depending on the area occupied by plants, their density, the degree of threat to the life and health of citizens, the environment, and the number of their growing sites, various methods of regulating the spread and numbers of plant species (except for trees and shrubs) are used: manual, mechanical, and chemical methods. Pesticides should be applied in early spring during the beginning of plant vegetation (leaf rosette phase) and repeatedly after mowing plants at the beginning of leaf regrowth. The need for repeated application of pesticides is determined by the number of vegetating plants. After pesticide treatment, deep plowing of agricultural lands with soil inversion is applied.

According to subparagraph 6.9.17 of clause 6 of the technical code of practice TKP 17.05-03-2020 "Requirements for carrying out measures to limit the spread and numbers of invasive plants (Sosnowski's hogweed, Canadian goldenrod, prickly cucumber, and other invasive plants) by various methods", approved and put into effect by the Resolution of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated July 16, 2020 No. 5-T, the optimal timing for herbicide application to control the spread and numbers of Canadian goldenrod is late spring - early summer, when the plants are up to 30 cm high. When treating tall plants, they must be mowed down and then treated with preparations.

Thus, in accordance with the current legislation, the chemical method of controlling goldenrod can be used not only in late spring - early summer, but also at other times, provided that it is mowed down (trimmed) beforehand. This technology helps to prevent and minimize the death of bees and other entomofauna during the summer-autumn period.

Chief Specialist of the Miory District Inspectorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection A.E. Voevodov