Pest Management

Utilizing environmentally sensitive prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies, to manage weeds, insects, diseases, animals and other organisms (including invasive and non-invasive species), that directly or indirectly cause damage or annoyance.

Do you have a Noxious Weed Issue?

The MDA maintain a current list of the weed inspectors for Stearns County and all the counties in MN. click here to find the weed inspector in your area.
 

The Agricultural Inspector is responsible for:

• Regulation and enforcement of the Noxious Weed Law & Seed Law. They also assists in administering pesticide exams for commercial and noncommercial applicators (call to schedule an appointment for exams).
• Assisting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in feed and fertilizer sampling and testing programs.
• Vegetative Management: seeding right of way, seed selection and recommendations, mowing, spraying herbicide application on county right of way by using safe and cost effective products.
• Biological noxious weeds control programs - leafy spurge and purple loose strife. Seed sampling, prohibitive and restrictive;
• Township/Cities Weed Tours

The Top 5 Most Problem Weeds

Wild Parsnip

Warning - Avoid skin contact with the toxic sap of the plant tissue by wearing gloves, long sleeves and long pants. The juice of wild parsnip in contact with skin in the presence of sunlight can cause a rash and blistering and discoloration of the skin (phytophotodermatitis).

Leafy Spurge

Ecological Threat:

• Rapidly invades primarily non-cropland disturbed environments, such as roadsides.
• Is a threat primarily to moist and dry prairies and savannas, quickly displacing native plants.
• Tolerant of a wide range of habitats, from dry to moist, and sunny to semi-shade. Most aggressive in dry soil conditions where there is less competition from native plants.
• Native to Europe and Asia it occurs across much of the northern U.S. in the grasslands and savannas of the Great Plains.
• Leafy spurge is on the MDA Prohibited noxious weeds list in Minnesota.

Spotted Knapweed

Ecological Threat:

• Especially threatens dry prairie, oak and pine barrens, dunes and sandy ridges.
• Spotted knapweed is poisonous to other plants (phytotoxic).
• Spreads rapidly in artificial corridors, gravel pits, agricultural field margins and overgrazed pastures.
• A native of Europe and Asia it has become a serious problem in pastures and rangeland of the western states.
• It is on the MDA Secondary noxious weeds list in Minnesota.

Purple Loosestrife

Ecological Threat

Purple loosestrife invades marshes and lakeshores, replacing cattails and other wetland plants. The plant can form dense, impenetrable stands which are unsuitable as cover, food, or nesting sites for a wide range of native wetland animals including ducks, geese, rails, bitterns, muskrats, frogs, toads, and turtles. Many rare and endangered wetland plants and animals are also at risk.

Common Tansy

Ecological Threat:

• Common tansy is wide spread across most northern United States and Canadian provinces.
• It is still cultivated in gardens and is common along roadsides and abandoned farmyards in northern Minnesota and along the north shore of Lake Superior. South sloping open areas are most vulnerable.
• It was introduced to the United States from Europe for medicinal and horticultural purposes.
• Common tansy is on the MDA Secondary noxious weeds list in Minnesota.

More invasive plants:

Other Pest Web Links