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
2026 Schedule
General Session
9:00 to 9:10 AM
Welcome to the Weed Conference
9:10 to 10:00 AM
Developing Projects for Invasive Species Detection with Conservation Detection Dog Teams
Collette Yee, Rogue Detection Teams
10:00 to 10:15 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience
10:15 to 11:05 AM
Washington State Legislative Update
Billy Olesen, Pest Stop Services, Inc.
11:10 to Noon
Roundup Brands within the Vegetation Management Space - Past, Present and Future
Timothy Hoyt, Ruveon
Noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
1:30 to 2:20 PM
Prohibited Plants and Bad Seeds - How WSDA Helps Prevent the Introduction of Invasive Noxious Weeds into Washington
Dr. Alison Halpern, WSDA
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
Kim Quayle, WA Dept. of Natural Resources
4:00 to 4:15 PM
Afternoon Break - Sponsored by The Orion Companies
4:15 to 5:05 PM
Pesticide Applicator Stewardship "Doing the Right Thing"
Andrei Omel, Wilbur-Ellis Company
Crop Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Title TBD
Shane Hanson
8:45 to 9:25 AM
Water Quality and PH: Keys to Herbicide Adjuvant Performance
Mathew Mackay, Invictus Crop Care
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Envu
9:50 to 10:30 AM
Lessons Learned in Managing Multiple Resistant Italian Ryegrass from Coast to Coast in the US
Morgan Menaker, WSU
10:35 to 11:15 AM
Corteva Herbicide Portfolio: Best Practices and Target Weeds
Kevin Cochrane, Corteva AgriScience
11:20 to Noon
Weed Management Research Updates in Sweet Corn and Snap Beans
Dr. Aaron Becera-Albarez, Oregon State University
Noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch
Aquatics Session
1:35 to 2:15 PM
TBD
2:20 to 3:00 PM
TBD
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Break
Sponsored by Envu
3:20 to 4:00 PM
TBD
4:05 to 4:45 PM
TBD
4:50 PM
Social Hour Sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Company
Vegetation Management Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Rain, Resistance, and Residuals: Building Better Bare-Ground Programs
Jeff Johnson, Alligare
8:45 to 9:25 AM
Management of Fire Fuel Sources in Forests, Rangeland and Roadsides
Will Halter, Corteva Agriscience
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Envu
9:50 to 10:30 AM
New and Exciting Biocontrol Agents Coming to Weed Near You
Jennifer Andreas, WSU
10:35 to 11:15 AM
Orobanche, The Good, the Bad, the Native and the Invvasive O. Cumana: Discovery, Containment, Control Moving Forward
Sue Bird, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
11:20 to Noon
Noxious Weeds and Pre-Emergence VS Post-Emergence
Hugo Mertens, The Orion Companies
Noon to 1:30 PM
Luncheon
1:35 to 2:15 PM
Reducing Herbicide Waste: How to Maximize Efficacy Without Maxing Out Rates
Lydia Fields, Wilbur-Ellis Company
2:20 to 3:00 PM
Kochia & Russian Thistle Control with the Correct Herbicide Mixes
Jerry Ellis, Envu
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Break
3:20 to 4:00 PM
TBD
4:05 to 4:45 PM
TBD
TBD
4:50 PM
Social Hour
Sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Company
Turf & Ornamental Session
8:00 to 8:40 AM
Control of Crabgrass and Other Nuisance Pests in Lawn
Michael Navarrete, Corteva Agriscience
8:45 to 9:25 AM
Rethinking Moss Management: Cause, Control and Prevention
Josey Heston, BioSafe Systems
9:25 to 9:45 AM
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Envu
9:50 to 10:30 AM
Diagnosing and Understanding Herbicide Failures in the Landscape
Lydia Fields, Wilbur-Ellis Company
10:35 to 11:15 AM
Using Adjuvants to Improve Weed Control and Solve Tough Landscape Problems,
Brian H, Wilbur-Ellis Company
11:20 to Noon
The PNW Sports Turf Playbook
Drew Rountree, Wilbur-Ellis Company
Noon to 1:30 PM
Luncheon
1:35 to 2:15 PM
How to Utilize Plant Growth Regulators in Lawncare to Reduce Inputs and Save on Labor Costs
Jake Leiser, Nufarm Americas
2:20 to 3:00 PM
Beyond Planting: Building Resilient Landscapes Through Modern Vegetation Management
David Erickson, City of Wenatchee
3:00 to 3:20 PM
Afternoon Coffee Break
3:20 to 4:00 PM
Burn it Down, Keep it Out
Trevor Radford, Albaugh LLC.
4:05 to 4:45 PM
TBD
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
Why Vegetation Management Matters More Than Ever
Jerry Ellis, Envu
9:05 to 9:55 AM
Three E's of Building Relations and Working with Landowners
Sue Bird, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
9:55 to 10:15 AM
Morning Break
Sponsored by Nufarm Americas
10:20 to 11:10 AM
TBD
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.