For the purpose of this bulletin, a "noxious weed" is a legal term that refers to "an invasive plant species requiring management or control because of legislative action" (Dewey and Torell 1992). Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 360 contains the definitions and a species list for noxious weeds. In general, noxious weeds are aggressive, invasive, exotic plants. Because they were introduced without their natural enemies, and are often adapted to a wide variety of sites - particularly disturbed areas - populations of these plants can explode, causing severe damage to agricultural, recreational, and natural resources.
Who is Responsible for Managing Noxious Weeds?
The Federal Noxious Weed Act (7 U.S.C. 2801-2814) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with private landowners and federal, state, and local agencies to prevent, control, or eradicate federally listed noxious weeds.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the primary federal regulatory agency that is responsible for preventing the introduction of exotic weeds to the United States, and facilitating the control of these weeds on non-federal lands (Westbrooks 1998).
State laws or county ordinances may require landowners and managers
to control or eliminate noxious weeds. Many states have a formal
noxious weed management program, usually coordinated by the state Department
of Food and Agriculture and put into practice at the county level.
State and county noxious weed boards guide management, suggest research
efforts, and refine state noxious weed lists as conditions change.
Successful noxious weed management requires communication and cooperation
among all concerned parties, including the following:
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