Early detection of noxious weeds provides the best chance of effective management



department of agriculture


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October 1, 2024

October Weed of the Month: The Invasion Curve

Early detection of noxious weeds provides the best chance of effective management

"*Maya Sarkar, Minnesota Department of Agriculture*"

Invasive plant species establish and spread throughout our state. Some areas are densely infested, while new invasives seem to be popping up in areas they never were before. Invasive species have many negative effects on our native plant communities and ecosystems, including native species suppression, restricting forest regrowth, and more.

It’s in our best interest to stop invasive species before they cause irreversible harm on our natural landscapes. But where do we start? Do we tackle heavy infestations or new establishments first? Where and what do we focus our time, effort, and limited funds on? This is where the concept of the “invasion curve” is used as a tool by land stewards to help coordinate our efforts in fighting back invasive species.

The generalized invasion curve describes the establishment and spread of a new invasive species and how management actions change through the stages of spread. Generally, an invasive species spreads over time, and that increases the area affected and associated management costs. Following the invasion timeline, prevention is the cheapest and most effective strategy.

Early detection of invasive species and a coordinated, rapid response for their removal are our best methods to limit harm and minimize the costs associated with invasion. When we are able to respond and eradicate an invasive species before it establishes in our state, we prevent habitat loss, biodiversity loss, harm to our soil and water health, and more. At the same time, we also decrease the resources needed, including funding, work time, and pesticide use. Overall, it’s a lot cheaper and healthier to prevent or eradicate a newly introduced species than it is to manage a widespread infestation.

Noxious weed populations increase over time, complicating management, and costing more money. The graphic is a graph showing this concept. [ [link removed] ]

Noxious weed populations increase over time, complicating management, and costing more money.

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As a population grows, it’s best to focus on containing the species to limit its spread and associated increase in management costs. If an invasive species becomes widespread over time, long-term management is required, and the focus is to control the population and its associated negative effects on native communities. New management options such as the development of biological control, new equipment such as remote-controlled forestry mowers, and new research findings to improve management outcomes can all greatly reduce widespread species. While we focus efforts on prevention and eradication of species that are not here yet or have very small populations, we also continue to explore new equipment options and collaborate with researchers for solutions to widespread invasive plant management.

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*MEDIA:* For more information on Weed of the Month, contact Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications, at [email protected] or 651-201-6131






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