
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 21, 1995                   TAG: 9504210099
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: STATE  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERBICIDE SPRAYING CUTS GRASS AND COSTS

Rather than cut the grass along some of the state's highways, the Department of Transportation is spraying a herbicide to retard its growth as a means of cutting something else - costs.

``We're delaying the growth so we can maybe eliminate a mow or two,'' said John Muse, one of the Transportation Department's roadside development managers.

The department has an annual budget of $15 million to cut grass. The herbicide is supposed to keep the grass from growing as fast as normal, putting off the first mowing until June.

With the fiscal year ending June 30, some department maintenance managers are close to running out of funds for mowing, and they have been ordered to stop mowing altogether in some areas.

The slow-growth chemical being used is mefluide, which is sold under the brand name Embark. Mefluide slows the division of grass plant cells. In this way, the seed heads produced by grass plants during the spring are reduced.

The herbicide is not toxic to animals or fish and does not threaten ground water because it rarely leaches into the soil, said David Austin, director of research and development at PBI/Gordon Corp. in Kansas City, Mo., which manufactures Embark.

Muse said crews avoid residential areas. They also have maps showing locations of wells. A blue-green dye added to the herbicide helps identify which areas have been sprayed.

Generally, crews apply the chemical to the 25 feet of grass nearest the road.

Maryland has used Embark and other herbicides for several years to curb grass and weed growth.

In parts of the state, Virginia is replacing grass with flowers and trees.

Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.

by CNB