BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is leading the development of a task force composed of county weed officers, North Dakota State University research and Extension officials, members from commodity groups, agriculture associations, commodity processing facilities, agribusiness and agronomists in order to best manage noxious weeds across the state.

North Dakota’s noxious weeds are absinth wormwood, Canada thistle, dalmation toadflax, diffuse knapweed, houndstongue, leafy spurge, musk thistle, Palmer amaranth, purple loosestrife, Russian knapweed, saltcedar, spotted knapweed and yellow toadflax.

“Agriculture operates with inherent risk,” Goehring said. “We want to help mitigate some of the risk with best management practices in as many areas as feasible.”

Goehring said the goals of the task force are to:

• Review statewide weed control procedures.
• Identify areas that may contribute to the spread of noxious and invasive weeds, and provide a better understanding of prevention and weed management plans for high risk areas.
• Focus efforts on how to best manage noxious weeds once they have been found.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has sought representation from the aforementioned groups and the task force will meet March 15.

More information about North Dakota’s noxious weeds is located at https://www.nd.gov/ndda/plant-industries/noxious-weeds.