***IMPORTANT NOTE***

According to Idaho Code 22-2407, Idaho property owners carry the primary burden of controlling noxious weeds on their land.  County Weed Superintendents may only treat noxious weeds on private property if the landowner fails to fully mitigate the situation.  In such instances, the County will treat the noxious weeds and bill the property owner for the weed control efforts. 

Noxious Weeds

Why are noxious weeds bad?

HABITAT DESTRUCTION — Noxious weeds are invaders that have few or no redeeming qualities. When Knapweeds become established in the mountains of Idaho, they displace the forbs and grasses used by elk and deer. Big game animals won’t eat these plants, and as they spread, their old stalks build up the available fuel load that leads to the hot, widespread fires that plague our forests.

THEY ATTACK OUR AGRICULTURE. — Noxious weeds invade our fields and pastures. They can decrease yields, complicate harvesting operations, or they can contaminate our food and seeds. Our economic lively hood depends on our ability to keep these weeds under control, and out of our commodities.

POISONOUS PLANTS — Some noxious weeds have sap that can cause blindness, or severe rashes that leave permanent scaring. Poison hemlock can cause fatalities even in very small amounts, when eaten by livestock, or when mistaken by people for wild parsley or dill.

LOWER LAND VALUES — Some weeds are so difficult to remove, and interfere with expected and normal uses of the land that property values are adversely affected. Deep-rooted perennials are very difficult, and expensive to control.

INTERFERE WITH IRRIGATION, POWER GENERATION AND RECREATION — Eurasian Watermilfoil has the potential to plug intake pipes of power plants, canals, and factories. This plant can get so dense that boating is not possible in lakes it has invaded. Fish can be killed by the effect Eurasian Watermilfoil can have on the temperature, PH, and gas content of the water. Other plants like Purple Loosestrife can change the velocities of streams and ponds, adversely affecting the habitat of birds, fish and wildlife.

To learn more about Noxious Weeds and what is being done to control them at a national level, follow this link to the National Invasive Species Council.

Every state has a need to protect its environment and economy from the damages caused by noxious weeds. Each state regulates weeds in different ways, and work with their respective departments of agriculture and/or department of environmental quality, towards that end.

To see what our surrounding states are doing about noxious weed control, follow these links.

Certified Noxious Weed Free Forage & Straw Program.

In accordance with federal mandate, the United States Forest Service requires that all visitors to our forests must use Certified Noxious Weed Free Forage and Straw, if they are bringing animal supplies onto public grounds. Substantial fines and penalties will be assessed to you, if certified materials are not used. To assist you in certifying the feed and straw that you have grown, Ada County Noxious Weed Control has provided this printable application. Please complete this application and mail it to our address at 975 E. Pine, Meridian, ID 83642. If you need assistance with this application, or need further information regarding the Noxious Weed Free Forage and Straw Program, please call us at (208) 577-4646. We will do our best to answer your questions.

PDF Version of Application for Forage & Straw Certification.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat to open)