Jasper County Weed Control Board

05/22/2026

Ever spotted a plant in your yard or along the road and immediately thought, “Uh oh… is that poison hemlock?” You’re definitely not alone.

Native angelica and invasive poison hemlock can look surprisingly similar, but there are a few key differences that make identification much easier. Poison hemlock has purple blotches along the stems and fern-like leaves, while native angelica has solid maroon stems and much larger compound leaves.

Important: BOTH plants are toxic, so avoid touching or ingesting either one and keep pets and children away.

Learning these look-alikes helps protect our native plants while stopping invasive species before they spread. Want to learn more about invasive species in southern Indiana? Visit sicim.info

05/18/2026

We are excited to officially roll out our new W**d Control Board truck! 🛻🌿

You will be seeing this new ride out and about in the county as we work on noxious/invasive mapping, community outreach, and other projects!

We want to thank Reinforcements Design for the amazing graphics on this vehicle. They are so fun and really showcase what we are working for.

If you spot us, give us a wave!

05/11/2026

Want to know if you have Noxious/Invasive weeds on your property?
Want to provide better wildlife habitat or improve your agricultural productivity?
Check out our Invasive & Noxious weeds landowner survey program!

Contact - Shay Seibring - For more information or to schedule a survey/meeting.

04/27/2026

On Friday, the JC WCB's W**d Control Program Coordinator, Shay Seibring, attended a W**d Wrangle at Conrad Station Savanna!

W**d Wrangles are volunteer events hosted nationwide to control invasive plants that are negatively impacting our public parks, green spaces, and natural areas. They are a great way to learn to identify and manage invasive species, give back to your local environment, and connect with others interested in conservation.

Shay is hoping to attend more W**d Wrangles this year - and we hope you'll join too!

Visit: https://sicim.info/weed-wrangle-indiana, to find more events near you.

**dWrangle

04/22/2026

🌎Happy Earth Day!🌍

Today is a great reminder that protecting our land starts right in our own communities. We are dedicated to preserving our counties ecological health and agricultural productivity by educating about noxious and invasive weeds.

You can help make a difference:
✔️Learn to Identify noxious and invasive plants in your area.
✔️Remove these plants from your property.
✔️Replace these weeds with native plants that support pollinators and wildlife.

Please reach out to us or the Jasper County Soil & Water Conservation District about any of these topics. We are here to help!

If you read this post, comment your favorite native plant that supports our area on earth 🌎
Currently ours is Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)

04/20/2026

Invasive Plant of the Week: Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Those tall purple blooms might look right at home in your yard, but Dame’s rocket is an invasive plant that spreads quickly and crowds out native wildflowers. Over time, it can take over garden beds and nearby natural areas, reducing biodiversity and limiting food sources for pollinators.

Homeowners can help protect local ecosystems by removing Dame’s rocket before it goes to seed and choosing native alternatives that support wildlife.

For more information on invasive species please visit sicim.info

04/15/2026

A great local native plant sale to get plants to replace your invasive/noxious weeds with!

Awesome way to support pollinators too! 🦋🪲🌼

04/14/2026

It’s great to see fire being used to manage phragmites!

If you live in northwest Indiana, or if you drive through northwest Indiana, you know that the invasive plant Phragmites is everywhere. Phragmites forms massive, dense stands that destroy wetland biodiversity, choke out native species and hinder wildlife movement. It’s a bad plant in Indiana.

Unfortunately, it has taken hold in a portion of Kankakee Sands in Newton County. But last week, trained TNC staff safely conducted a prescribed burn to combat the plant. When Phragmites burns, it sends up 20-40 ft flames with oily black smoke, which you can see in this image. This will make follow-up herbicide treatment much easier.

Learn more about how TNC uses fire as a conservation tool at https://nature.ly/4cxaJgL

04/13/2026

Our first event = Success! 🎉

Thank you to everyone that stopped by our W**d Control Board table at the Jasper County Home & Garden Expo. It was great meeting you all!

Thank you to DeMotte Chamber of Commerce and Greater Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce for putting on this amazing event!

04/11/2026

Meet the team behind the Jasper County W**d Control Board!

Acting Board Members
Chair & Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor - Jim Martin (pictured back left)
Vice-Chair & Representative from the Agricultural Community of the County - Scott Bahler (pictured back middle)
Representative from the County Highway Department - Ed Cain (pictured back right)
Township Trustee of the County & Cooperative - Sandy Putt (pictured front right)
Cooperative Extension Service Agent from the County: Purdue Extension - Summer Brinkman (pictured front middle)

Staff
Jasper County W**d Control Program Coordinator - Shay Seibring (Pictured with Got Invasives sign)

Technical Assistance
Administrative Assistant - Cayci Lane (pictured front left)
Technical Advisor - Joshua Kesling (not pictured)
State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) - Aj Popovic (not pictured)

The Jasper County W**d Control Board is made up of passionate community members committed to managing noxious species, supporting landowners, and keeping our county healthy and thriving.
We are here if you have questions, need assistance, or want to get involved!