ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 18, 2008

JOHNSON NAMES NOXIOUS WEED SPECIALIST

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has appointed Blake J. Schaan as a noxious weed specialist in the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

“Blake’s farm background, including his certification as a pesticide applicator, and his training in biology are excellent qualifications for this position,” Johnson said. “We are glad to have him on staff before the 2008 crop season gets underway.”

Schaan is a native of Rugby, and attended Minot State University-Bottineau before graduating from the University of North Dakota with a degree in wildlife biology. While in college, he was a seasonal employee for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and USDA Wildlife Services.

Johnson said Schaan will work with county and city weed boards, state and federal agencies, and private landowners to ensure compliance with North Dakota’s noxious weed laws.

Schaan’s duties include:

• Identifying potential invasive weed threats and developing programs to mitigate those threats.
• Promoting public awareness of noxious and invasive weeds and of weed laws.
• Working with researchers, government agencies and others on weed management issues.
• Promoting the development of biological control programs.
  

-30-

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.

For a picture of Blake Schaan in jpeg format, please contact Ted Quanrud.