Noxious Weed Information

Expand the panels below for more information pertaining to noxious weeds in Becker County.

  • Life Cycle of Weeds

    Annuals

    • Complete their life cycle in a growing season
    • Spread by seed

    Biennials

    • Complete their life cycle in two growing seasons
    • Reproduce by seed (rosette form first year, flower and seed production during second year of life cycle)

    Perennials

    • Live three or more years
    • Reproduce by seed, underground root structures, and/or plant cuttings
  • Noxious Weed Categories

    Developed by the Minnesota Noxious Weed Advisory Committee & MDA

    1. Prohibited Noxious Weeds are annual, biennial, or perennial plants that the commissioner designates as having the potential or are known to be detrimental to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock or other property. There are two regulatory listings for prohibited noxious weeds in Minnesota:
      1. Eradicate List - Prohibited noxious weeds that are listed to be eradicated are plants that are not currently known to be present in Minnesota or are not widely established. These species must be eradicated, meaning all of the above and below ground parts of the plant must be destroyed, as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.78. Additionally, no movement, propagation, or sale of these plants is allowed. Measures must also be taken to prevent and exclude these species from being introduced into Minnesota.
      2. Controlled List - Prohibited noxious weeds that are listed to be controlled are plants that are established throughout Minnesota or regions of the state. Species on this list must be controlled, meaning efforts must be made to destroy all propagating parts and prevent seed maturation and dispersal, thereby reducing established populations and preventing reproduction and spread as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.78. Additionally, no movement, propagation, or sale of these plants is allowed.
    2. Restricted Noxious Weeds - Restricted Noxious Weeds are plants that are widely distributed in Minnesota and are detrimental to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock or other property, but whose only feasible means of control is to prevent their spread by prohibiting the importation, sale, and transportation of their propagating parts in the state except as allowed by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.82. Plants designated as Restricted Noxious Weeds may be reclassified if effective means of control are developed.
    3. Specially Regulated Plants - Specially Regulated Plants are plants that may be native species or have demonstrated economic value, but also have the potential to cause harm in non-controlled environments. Plants designated as specially regulated have been determined to pose ecological, economical, or human or animal health concerns. Plant specific management plans and or rules that define the use and management requirements for these plants will be developed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for each plant designated as specially regulated. Measures must also be taken to minimize the potential for harm caused by these plants.
    4. County Noxious Weeds - County noxious Weeds are plants that are approved by individual county boards to be prohibited within the counties jurisdiction. Each county must annually submit their approved County Noxious Weed List to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture no later than March 31st. The Minnesota Department of agriculture will post the most current County Noxious Weeds on their web site for public review. County noxious Weeds shall also be posted with the county's general weed notice prior to May 15th each year. Counties are solely responsible for approval and listing of County Noxious Weeds and their enforcement.
  • Noxious Weeds Listed for Becker County

    Noxious Weeds in Becker County

    Prohibited noxious weeds must be eradicated or controlled as required in Minnesota statutes.

    Eradicate List:

    1. Meadow Knapweed Centaurea x moncktonii
    2. Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum
    3. Palmer Amaranth Ameranthus palmeri

    Control List:

    1. Leafy Spurge (PDF) Euphorbia esula (L.)
    2. Canada Thistle (PDF) Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
    3. Musk Thistle (PDF) Carduus nutans (L.)
    4. Plumeless Thistle (PDF) Carduus acanthoides (L.)
    5. Purple Loosestrife (PDF) Lythrum salicaria (L.)
    6. Wild Parsnip (PDF) Pastinaca sativa L.
    7. Common Tansy (PDF) Tanacetum vulgare L.
    8. Spotted Knapweed (PDF) Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. Micranthos(Gugler) Hayek
    9. Non-Native Phragmites australis ssp. australis

    3 State Restricted Noxious Weeds

    Restricted noxious weeds are prohibited from importation, sale, and transportation in the state except as provided by Minnesota Statutes.

    1. Common/European Buckthorn (PDF) Rhamnus cathartica (L.)
    2. Glossy Buckthorn (& all cultivars) (PDF) Frangula alnus Mill.
    3. Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora Thunb.

    1 State Specially Regulated Plant

    1. Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze

    1 State Non-Regulated Species of Concern

    1. Wild Carrot Daucus carota

    5 County Prohibited Noxious Weeds

    1. Absinthe Wormwood (PDF) Artemesia absinthium
    2. Hoary Alyssum (PDF) Berteroa incana
    3. Houndstongue (PDF) Cynoglossom officinale L.
    4. Orange Hawkweed Hieracium aurantiacum
    5. Yellow Hawkweed Hieracium caespitosum
  • Basic Concepts of Weed Management to Consider
    • Be persistent; think long-term - No quick fix for weed problems
    • Manage small infestations immediately - Small weed populations can be managed quickly and efficiently.
    • Contain large weed infestations - Large weed populations take many years to manage, avoid the spread of existing infestations.
    • Education of the public is important - Inform landowners on key weed problems and how to identify important weeds.
    • Use an IPM approach when possible - Integrated Pest Management techniques used together, have shown greater results than using one weed management technique alone.
  • Common Management Practices
    • Pre-emergent Herbicides - Used in early spring mostly in agricultural crops
    • Spring and Fall Tillage - Successfully controls many weeds in agricultural fields
    • Spring and Fall Burning - Enhances the growth and development of desirable plants for increased plant competition in natural areas and rights-of-ways
    • Biological Control - Works well on large established stands of leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, spotted knapweed, and garlic mustard
    • Contact Herbicides - Most effective when used to treat emerging seedlings, rosettes, and perennial plants in the early spring and fall
    • Pre-seed mowing - Reduces flower and seed production of many weed species; can also be a major factor of weed seed spread if performed after seed development
    • Woody Perennial Treatment - Cutting and/or pulling of woody species like buckthorns can be effective if cuttings are followed with stump treatments and spot-spraying of emerging seedlings
    Windows of Opportunity for Weed Management Practices
    Weed Management Timeline. Text description link below image.