Realtors & Appraisors

Land Values, Land Management, and
Invasive Weeds Course

Why should you care?

Noxious weeds are an increasing threat to the beauty and purity of our Wyoming landscape. They quickly replace native vegetation including forage for wildlife. This may even be happening in your very own backyards. High weed control costs are cut dramatically when noxoious weeds are detected early. Join us and learn the facts!

This class was not created to make you a noxious weed expert but a responsible land steward.

Make It Count!
4 Continuing Education Credits!


Appraiser/Realtor Module Course Structure:

15 minutes: Introductions (Why are you here? What questions do you have that you would like answered today? Use these questions for the game at the end.)

20 minutes: PowerPoint - What are the serious impacts of noxious weeds and why do they affect you?

10 minutes: Present Example Scenario – Land value issue involving noxious weed management, appraiser/realtor liability and potential risk from disclosure or non-disclosure, the purchaser position, the seller position, the weed evaluation, how land values were affected, and the final outcome. Discuss the role everyone played.

5 minutes:  Offer three Teaser Questions to prepare participants for the game at the end of the course.

1. How many of the counties in Wyoming have identified noxious weed infestations?
    Answer: All 23 counties have noxious weed infestations.

2. How many weeds are declared noxious in Wyoming?
    Answer: 24

3. True/False: Spraying noxious weeds with herbicide will generally eliminate the problem.
     Answer: False. Herbicides are a temporary fix. Long-term solutions include integration of many practices i.e. revegetation.

30 minutes: Group activity – Separate participants into four groups and present each group with a scenario involving noxious weeds, a specific life-like situation, and a land value problem to discuss. Each scenario has a series of criteria to discuss. They will also involve risk liability issues for appraisers/realtors, management costs, resources to gather necessary information to make decisions, and benefits for disclosure. After forty minutes, have each group select a spokesperson to present the scenario and their best answer to the entire group.

20 minutes: Combination break and inspection of pressed noxious weed display.

45 minutes: Powerpoint presentation of top five noxious weeds in your district.
This will include a discussion identifying the serious impacts to land use, competitive nature, displacement of native and forage plant communities, land value, forage for wildlife, agricultural production issues, erosion, etc. Discuss site specific optional management practices and the relevant cost of each.

10 minutes: Study for Weed Quiz

15 minutes: Quiz: Weed Identification

20 minutes: Resources and Information for Buyers and Sellers, Where to find management plans, weed district offices, internet sites, How to obtain educational information about specific weeds to share with clients.

20 minutes: What appraisers/realtors can do during buy and sell transactions.

30 minutes: Noxious Weed Trivia Game and Questions

Contact Amy Jerup at Teton County Weed and Pest (307) 733-8419 for more information. Classes can be requested with the participation of 8 people or more.