The Revised Minnesota Noxious Law Anthony Cortilet Minnesota Department of Noxious and Invasive Weed Program Noxious and Invasive Weed Program Website MN Noxious Weed Law

The MN Noxious Weed Law applies to ALL persons owning land in the State

There are no exemptions!

It is the policy of the legislature that residents of the state be protected from the injurious effects of noxious on public health, the environment, public roads, crops, , and other property. Sections 18.76 to 18.91 contain procedures for controlling and eradicating noxious weeds on all lands within the State. Minnesota Statute 18.75

Full Version Can Be Downloaded http://www.mda.state.mn.us/weedcontrol MN Noxious Weed Law

 Enforcement Process -Investigate (complaint or visual) -Contact landowner in violation -Verbal agreement -Issue individual weed notice -Coordinate violation with township/municipality and county attorney -Follow-up – investigate compliance -Address further issues -Cooperative weed management agreement, assisting with other management resources, further enforcement MN Noxious Weed Law

• 18.86 – Unlawful Acts No Person Shall:

– Hinder or obstruct in any way an inspector in the performance of duties under sections 18.76 to 18.91 and related rules – Neglect, fail, or refuse to comply with section 18.82 or related rules in the transportation and use of material or equipment infested with noxious weed propagating parts. – Sell materials containing noxious weed propagating parts to a person who does not have a permit to transport that material or a screenings permit (MS 21.74) – Neglect, fail, or refuse to comply with a general notice or an individual notice to control or eradicate noxious weeds.

All violations result in a misdemeanor 2009 Revisions

MN Statutes 18.75 – 18.91 (formerly 18.75 – 18.88)

In 2009, the MN Legislature completed a major revision of the statutes

Three sections were added 18.89 – Noxious Weed and Account 18.90 – Grant Program 18.91 – Advisory Committee; Membership 2009 Noxious Weed Law • 18.89 – Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Plant Species Assistance Account – Created within the Agricultural Fund and annually appropriated to the Commissioner of Agriculture to Implement Section 18.90 • Although this was put into statute, NO MONEY IS CURRENTLY IN THIS ACCOUNT! 2009 Noxious Weed Law

• 18.90 – Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Species Grant Program – Funded through Section 18.89 • Can be used by the Commissioner of Agriculture to solicit applications from local governments and other weed management entities to assist with implementation and maintenance of noxious weed programs and/or to address special problems. • Noxious Weed Advisory Committee will assist the Commissioner with evaluating applications. • Grants MAY be awarded for applied research, demonstrative or innovative control methods, weed management areas, invasive plants of concern, monitoring or surveillance, and outreach programs. 2009 Noxious Weed Law

• 18.91 – Noxious Weed Advisory Committee; Membership – Subd. 1- This committee will assist the Commissioner of Agriculture by evaluating plant species for invasiveness, difficulty of control, costs of control, possible benefits from these species, and amount of injury caused by them. – Subd. 2 – Membership • Representative outlined in this subdivision will serve on the committee. Noxious Weed Advisory Committee

• Roger Becker – U of M, Weed Science • Neil Anderson – U of M, Natural Resources • Jeff Gillman – U of M, Extension • John Daniels – MN Nursery Association • Jim Calkins - Minnehaha Creek Watershed Dist. • Tim O’Hara – MN Forest Industry • Matt Holland – Pheasants Forever • Steve Chaplin – The Nature Conservancy • Dan Shaw – MN Board of Water And Soil • Kerry Saxton – MN SWCD • Susan Birks – MN DNR • Laura Van Riper – MN DNR • Trent McCorkell – MN Ass. of Ag. Inspectors • Ben Lang – MN Crop Improvement • Gene Dufault – MN Ass. of Townships • Jeremy Geske – MN Farm Bureau • Tina Markeson – MN DOT Duties of the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee

• Advise the Commissioner regarding responsibilities under the noxious weed control program • Evaluate species – invasiveness, difficulty of control, cost of control, benefits of a species, injury caused by a species • Develop weed categories for listing species • Develop management criteria for each noxious weed category • Recommend where a species is listed • Reevaluate species every 3 years NWAC - UPDATE

• Follow NWAC progress online: http://mnnoxiousweeds.wikispaces.com • NWAC has met 4 times since forming in Nov. 2009 • Risk assessment model from NWPEC has been reviewed, updated, and standardized for NWAC. • 1st Goal has been accomplished – revising categories, developing a risk assessment process and new listing of noxious weeds State Prohibited Noxious Weeds

• Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis (L.) • Hemp Cannabis sativa (L.) • Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria (L.) • Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) • Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans (Ktze.) • Leafy Spurge Euphorbia esula (L.) • Perennial Sowthistle Sonchus arvensis (L.) • Bull Thistle (Savi) Tenore • Canada Thistle (L.) Scop. • Musk Thistle Carduus nutans (L.) • Plumeless Thistle Carduus acanthoides (L.) State Restricted Noxious Weeds

• Common or European Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica (L.)

• Glossy Buckthorn Frangula alnus (L.), Rhamnus Frangula (L.), and all cultivars

Petitioning Noxious Weeds Proposed Noxious Weed Lists

Prohibited Noxious Weeds Eradicate List Control List Restricted Noxious Weeds Specially Regulated Plants Yellow Star Thistle Common Hemp Common or European Buckthorn Poison Ivy Grecian Foxglove Purple Loosestrife Glossy Buckthorn (& all cultivars) Garlic Mustard Leafy Spurge Bull Thistle Non-Regulated Species of Concern Canada Thistle State Lists Wild Carrot Musk Thistle Plumeless Thistle Wild Parsnip Common Tansy Spotted Knapweed

Secondary List (County Option) Common Cocklebur Hoary Alyssum County Option Kochia Oxeye Daisy Orange Hawkweed Velvetleaf Wormwood Wooly Cupgrass Thank You! Questions?