Mission
Montana biological Weed Control Coordination Project (MTBCP) is a grassroots effort created to provide the leadership, coordination, and education necessary to enable land managers across Montana to successfully incorporate biological weed control into their noxious weed management programs.
History
1948
The first releases of biocontrol agents are made in Montana. Chrysolina spp. (defoliating beetles) were released on St. Johnswort.
1950 -1970s
Additional releases of Chrysolina spp. were made on St. Johnswort, as well as newly approved biocontrol agents released for management on leafy spurge, musk thistle, Canada thistle, puncturevine, and spotted knapweed
1976
With the successful establishment of Urophora spp. (gall flies) on spotted knapweed and growing awareness of the knapweed problem in western Montana, Montana State University (MSU) hired a full-time research scientist at the Western Research Experiment Station in Corvallis focused exclusively on biocontrol.
1980s
An assistant professor was added on the main campus of MSU to work primarily on biocontrol of toadflaxes and leafy spurge. To augment the Montana biological control activities and the redistribution of agents by USDA ARS and MSU, the USDA APHIS Center for Plant Health and Science and Technology (CPHST) opened a laboratory in Bozeman.
1988
Montana State University constructed an Insect Quarantine Laboratory and a Quarantine Officer/Research Scientist was hired.
1989
USDA ARS expanded its biological control program by hiring a Research Leader for the newly formed Rangeland Weeds Lab. Additional personnel were assigned to this new lab in Bozeman and another scientist was transferred to the USDA ARS laboratory in Sidney to work on leafy spurge.
Early 1990s
A major expansion of Montana biological control activities began as agents became available for spotted, diffuse, and Russian knapweeds, leafy spurge, Dalmatian and yellow toadflax, musk thistle, and other weeds. Various school groups in Columbus, Whitehall and other Montana communities became active in rearing and redistributing agents. At the end of the decade the MSU Insect Quarantine Laboratory was expanded to include a plant pathology containment laboratory and additional greenhouses.
Early 2000s
The importation of new biological control agents decreased as the regulatory process became more cumbersome. Development of agents for whitetop, Russian knapweed, and hawkweeds, was initiated. Several regional consortia formed to help fund overseas screening. Biocontrol projects for tansy ragwort, leafy spurge, and spotted knapweed started to show success. The USDA Agricultural Research Service lab in Sidney, MT expanded to include a containment facility.
2013
The Montana Biological Weed Control Coordination Project (MTBCP) was created. The Mission of MTBCP is to provide the leadership, coordination and education necessary to enable land managers across Montana to successfully incorporate biological weed control into their noxious weed management programs. MTBCP is possible due to annual contributions received from across the state and success in grant writing.
