WHY CONTROL NOXIOUS WEEDS?
Noxious weeds threaten wildlife by displacing native forage and nesting habitat. They reduce forage and row crop productivity. The aggressive growth of noxious weeds can dramatically reduce establishment and growth of new tree plantings and threaten native endangered plant species. These native plants may be future sources of genetic material or medicines. The increase in soil erosion from noxious weed infestations not only reduces the productivity of the land but increases sedimentation in lakes and streams reducing the quality of fish habitat. Outdoor recreation can be seriously hampered by noxious weeds. These very invasive weeds are causing alarming economic losses to the state and require a concerted effort to bring them under control. INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR NOXIOUS WEEDS When developing a weed management strategy it is critical to consider all available resources and tools. The integrated utilization of the various weed management options should focus on the most
