GREENSBORO – Of the many ongoing projects led by the Greensboro Conservation Commission (GCC), the invasive plant management program has garnered attention. At GCC meetings and in conversations around town, some residents are concerned that removal methods using herbicide will pose a risk to their health, as well as potential environmental impacts.
The herbicide in question, glyphosate concentrate, has been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pose no risks of concern to human health from current uses. According to epa.gov, due to its widespread use, trace amounts of glyphosate residues may be found in various fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals and other food and beverage commodities. However, these trace amounts are not of concern for the consumer.
Residents expressed their worry about the impacts of herbicide use at the Greensboro Town Meeting, as well as the most recent GCC meeting, March 14. At that same meeting, it was revealed Smith’s Grocery had declined the stem injection pilot program, but are open to mechanical removal methods.
Will Marlier, lead of the GCC invasives program provided some insight, “Yes, the owner of Smith’s Grocery let us know in January that he had received enough push-back from the public that he chose to withdraw from the GCC pilot program. He indicated that following through with herbicide use could hurt his business. This seemed to be in response to any herbicidal application, not stem-injection methodology in particular. The owner did indicate that he would be willing to move forward with mechanical management of the site (via hand-pulling and/or cutting of the plant).”
“The stem injection method involves the cutting of all plants by hand, followed by the careful injection of herbicide directly into the remaining stem. The licensed pesticide applicator would move to each plant with a syringe, injecting them one-by-one with the approved dosage,” said Marlier.
“Although this method is more labor intensive and costly than typical foliar spray application of herbicide, the GCC selected it in anticipation of community concerns. The proposed stem-injection method will reduce the possibility of herbicide drifting on the wind, limit unintended impacts on nearby vegetation, and hopefully convey the commission’s commitment to pursuing careful and deliberate solutions to the management of invasives throughout Greensboro.”
Now entering its fourth year, outreach and public education are critical tenants of the invasive species program, Marlier says. The GCC has designed and distributed flyers, electronic surveys, in addition to hosting public education workshops and submitting editorials to the newspaper.
Marlier says the next installment in their public outreach will be this summer. He is coordinating with prospective speakers to address the following issues: invasive species general information with statewide perspective; pesticide use for invasive management and state/federal regulation and invasive species trends and observations, with local perspective.
“We will have more information on this summer’s invasive species workshop soon. The GCC looks forward to building on this robust effort to bring information on the critical invasive species issue to the greater Greensboro community,” said Marlier.
According to Marlier the GCC is also collaborating with Highland Lodge on a demonstration knotweed removal project on Craftsbury Road opposite the Lodge, and also working with property owners in Greensboro Bend on the removal of knotweed on the banks of the Lamoille River. For those interested in getting involved or learning more about invasive species removal, the GCC is planning a public event on the topic of invasive plant management in Greensboro during the summer of 2026. It will be publicized in advance once all details have been confirmed.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
