2026 Weed Conference
General Information Everything You Need to Know About Weeds at This One Meeting!
The 76th annual Washington State Weed Conference provides information on all aspects of weed control and management. It's one of the largest meetings of its type and covers crops of all kinds, turf and ornamental, and vegetation management.
The Washington Vegetation Management Association believes it is important to cultivate the next generation of weed scientists. As an important means to that end, in 2024, we instituted a scholarship to assist those who are already on track for a career in weed science. This scholarship is also open to undergraduates.
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Over 40 Topics & Speakers
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15 Recertification Credits applied for from Washington and Oregon
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3 Concurrent Sessions
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Luncheon & Social Hour
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Trade Show
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Annual Weed Quiz with Cash Prizes
Agenda 3 Day Program
2025 Schedule - 2026 Coming Soon!
General Session
9:00 to 9:10 AM
Welcome to the Weed Conference
9:10 to 10:00 AM
Proper Use of Adjuvants to Improve Pesticide Performance and Reduce off Target Movement (Chemical Trespass)
Ian Crawford, Precision Laboratories
10:00 to 10:15 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by The Orion Companies
10:15 to 11:05 AM
Certified Pesticide Applicator Rule Changes and How They Affect Your License
Christina Zimmerman and Ingrid Zaragoza, WSDA
11:10 to Noon
Politics, Perception & Pesticides: What's Actually Changing (and What's Just Noise)
Billy Olesen, Washington State Pest Management Association
Noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
1:30 to 2:20 PM
Integrated Vegetation Management to Improve Access, Reliability, Cost, Habitat and Climate
Richard A. Jonstone, IVM Partners, Inc.
2:20 to 3:10 PM
Awards, Scholarships and Giveaways
3:10 to 4:00 PM
WSNWCB Update and Weed ID Quiz - Required for all afternoon credits
Mary Fee, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
4:00 to 4:15 PM
Afternoon Break - Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience
4:15 to 5:05 PM
Clematis Orientalis: Trials and Successes Controlling "Yakima's Kudzu"
Sue Bird, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
Crop Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Russian Thistle and Smooth Scouringrush Biology and Management
Dr. Drew Lyon, Washington State University
8:45 to 9:25 AM
Managing Herbicide Resistance Through Reliance on Pre-Emergents
Dr. Shane Hansen, Simplot Grower Solutions
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Alligare
9:50 to 10:30 AM
Yellow Nutsedge Management in Washington State Potato Production
Dr. Rui Lui, Washington State University
10:35 to 11:15 AM
In Sync with Nature: Using Integrated Pest Management to Control Environment Agriculture
Christopher Kaufman, Local Bounti
11:20 to Noon
Emerging Pests
Cassie Cichorz, Washington State Department of Agriculture
Noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch
Aquatics Session
1:35 to 2:15 PM
The Unusual Case of an Invasive Native Plant. Heteranthera dubia (water stargrass)
Dr. Thomas Sexton, Benton Conservation District
2:20 to 3:00 PM
Effectiveness of Florpyrauxifen-benzzyl for Invasive Milfoils in Washington State
Lauren Kuehne, Omfishient Consulting
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Break
Sponsored by Envu
3:20 to 4:00 PM
Using Drones for Weed Management in the Skagit Delta
Daniel Zimmerman, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
4:05 to 4:45 PM
Spartina in Washington State. A Current Look
Shaheen Page, Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Program
4:50 PM
Social Hour Sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Company
Vegetation Management Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Alligare Premix & Tank Mix Products for Bare Ground Weed Control
Dr. George Beck, Alligare
8:45 to 9:25 AM
How to Control Your Weeds With The New Contract Herbicide Altify IVM
Jerry Ellis, Envu
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Alligare
9:50 to 10:30 AM
Documentation and Record Keeping Using GPS Based As-applied Data
Ryan Kuster, Ag Enterprise Supply, Inc.
10:35 to 11:15 AM
Pesticides and the Public
Will Hatler, Corteva Agriscience
11:20 to Noon
New Herbicide Products Update, State Registrations, Availability and Field Trials on Russian Thistle, Field Bindweed, Knapweed and More
Jon Storr, Nufarm
Noon to 1:30 PM
Luncheon
1:35 to 2:15 PM
Adjuvant Use Efficiency – How to get the most out of our chemistries
Joshua Williams, Loveland Products
2:20 to 3:00 PM
Grass Identification & Management
Lydia Fields, Wilbur-Ellis
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Break
Sponsored by Envu
3:20 to 4:00 PM
TIMING is EVERYTHING!
Susan Bird, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
4:05 to 4:45 PM
Precision ROW Management: Leveraging PGRs for Noxious Weed Suppression and Grass Height Control
Tanner Smith, Corteva Agriscience
4:50 PM
Social Hour
Sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Company
Turf & Ornamental Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Getting the Most Out of Your Turf Products
Tim Magney, Willbur-Ellis Co.
8:45 to 9:25 AM
Broadleaf, Grassy Weed Identification and Solutions
Jake Leiser, Nufarm Americas
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Alligare
9:50 to 10:30 AM
Preemergent Programs and Tricks of the Trade
Michael Navarrete, CCA, Corteva Agriscience
10:35 to 11:15 AM
The Science of Control: Accurate ID, Smart Timing, Clear Expectations
Lydia Fields, Wilbur-Ellis
11:20 to Noon
Diagnosing Herbicide Damage on Ornamental Landscapes
Tim Kohlhauff, WSU
Noon to 1:30 PM
Luncheon
1:35 to 2:15 PM
Enhancing Herbicide Efficacy
Reed Perry, PBI Gordon Con.
2:20 to 3:00 PM
Using Electronic Product Control to Maximize Efficiency and Efficacy
Ryan Kuster, Ag Enterprise Supply, Inc.
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Coffee Break
Sponsored by Envu
3:20 to 4:00 PM
Nozzle Technology & Sprayer Calibration
Mike Powers, TeeJet Technologies
4:05 to 4:45 PM
Adjuvant Use Efficiency – How to get the most out of our chemistries
Joshua Williams, Loveland Products
4:50 PM
Social Hour
Sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Company
General Session
8:00 to 8:10 AM
Officer and Board Election Results
8:10 to 9:00 AM
Nozzle Technology and Droplet Size Management
Mike Powers, TeeJet Technologies
9:05 to 9:55 AM
Different Herbicide Modes of Action and What Weeds They Control
Jerry Ellis, Envu
9:55 to 10:15 AM
Morning Break
Sponsored by Nufarm Americas
10:20 to 11:10 AM
Vegetation Management Panel Discussion/Round Table Herbicide Q&A
11:10 AM
Awarding of Door Prizes - Adjournment of Conference
2026 Featured Speakers Sessions Led By Industry Experts
Jerry Ellis, Envu
Jerry has been in the industry for more than 30 years working on controlling noxious weeds both in crop and non-crop areas. Currently he is working for Envu covering the forestry, rangeland, and vegetation management markets in Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Jerry has been the President of the Washington Vegetation Management Association multiple times and is a frequent speaker and board member.
Collette Yee, Rogue Detection Teams
Collette Yee is the Special Operations Manager and Field Scientist for Rogue Detection Teams, a conservation organization specializing in the detection dog team methodology. Rogue Detection Teams adopts energetic shelter dogs and works with them on various conservation projects.
More Speakers Coming Soon!
Sponsors & Exhibitors Thanks to Our Corporate Supporters!
Location & Hotel Where to Stay
Wenatchee Convention Center
121 N Wenatchee Ave
Wenatchee, WA 98801
These hotels are convenient to the Convention Center. Please specify you are with the Washington State Weed Association.
The Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel
$115 / night single
Red Lion Wenatchee
No special conference rate
Hilton Garden Inn
$115 / night single or double
Get Answers Frequently Asked Questions
Get Registered Online & In-Person Registration
Registration is Now Open!
Registration includes all meetings and workshops, Thursday luncheon, social hour, and abstract of material presented by various speakers.
Low-Cost Registration Fee
Before or on October 26: $200 / person
After October 26: $250 / person
Online Only Option: $150 / person
Mail / Fax
If you would rather register by mail or fax, please download our registration form PDF and mail payment to:
Washington Weed Conference
P.O. Box 5021
Benton City, WA 99320
or fax the form to (509) 288-4771
Please Note: Refunds are issued upon request up to one week prior to the first day of the conference. Requests after that date are non-refundable.