Noxious Weed Control Program
The Kansas Noxious Weed Law was first enacted in 1937. It is designed to control, manage and eradicate 14 plants designated as noxious weeds by the Kansas Legislature.
The law assigns specific responsibilities to the three groups listed below:
Landowners
All landowners, both public and private, are required to control and eradicate all noxious weeds on lands that they own or manage.
Counties
The board of county commissioners and the county weed supervisor are responsible for conducting the noxious weed control program in their county. Some specific duties include:
Board of County Commissioners:
Employ a competent person as weed supervisor
File annual weed eradication reports and plans with the Secretary of Agriculture
Purchase or provide chemical materials for the control of noxious weeds
Establish cost-share prices for chemical materials
Declare county option noxious weeds to be noxious in their county
County Weed Directors:
Ascertain the amount of land infested with noxious weeds
Notify landowners of noxious weed infestations
Advise landowners on the most practical and effective methods of weed control
State
The Kansas Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for:
Developing official control plans for each noxious weed
Developing rules and regulations to enact the provision of the law
Approving the employment of county weed directors
Designating a county as a sericea lespedeza disaster area following consultations with county officials
Providing an annual general notice of weed infestation to counties
Rendering assistance to counties
Establishing sericea lespedeza control demonstration plots at Toronto State Park
Entering into agreements with federal land management agencies for the control of noxious weeds on federal lands.