Oceola Tests Invasive Weed For Cross-Breeding With Native Plant

11/2/12 - An invasive plant species may have started cross-breeding with local flora in Thompson Lake to become resistant to the herbicide used to kill it. The species, known as Eurasian milfoil, has been spreading across waterways in the northern Midwest since the 1940’s. It forms thick mats that interfere with recreation on lakes while choking out native plant life. Oceola Township treats the weed with an herbicide called Sonar, but recent evidence indicates the weed may be developing a resistance to Sonar by interbreeding with the native species of milfoil. Samples of the potentially-hybrid weed are now being grown for testing so the township can determine what concentration of herbicide will be effective. It will bring that information to the state in the spring to get permission to use a higher concentration if it is needed. (TD)