8.3 Noxious Weeds – What are they and legal requirements.

So what exactly is a noxious weed?  Legally, a noxious weed is any plant designated by a Federal, State or County government as being injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife or property.  These plants may be very competitive with cultivated crops, be toxic to livestock, cause damage to natural habitats, be resistant to herbicides and/or cause harm to public health, safety or transportation.  Nationally, the Noxious Weed Law of 1974 regulates the importation of weed species into the United States.  In addition, local and state governments also provide oversite.

Some weeds are designated as prohibited, where not even one of these weed seeds can be found in crop seed lots (primary noxious weeds),  while others are allowed in small amounts, not greater than 0.25% by weight of the crop seed lot (secondary noxious weeds).  Note that no crop seed may contain weed seed of any kind exceeding 2.5% by weight of the crop seed lot.

Landowners are obligated to mow (to prevent it from producing seeds) and/or destroy any weeds on the noxious weed list.  Not doing so results in penalties, and puts the local agriculture systems at risk.

More information about noxious weeds can be found at the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), including fact sheets, control methods and the latest national list:  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/SA_Weeds/SA_Noxious_Weeds_Program

The Ohio State University has an informative book on how to identify Ohio noxious weeds, as well as links to other resources:  https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/ohionoxiousweeds/

The latest list of Ohio noxious weeds is kept at:  http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/901%3A5-37