In 2024, two Prohibited Eradicate species were confirmed for the first time in three counties



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February 3, 2025

February Weed of the Month: 2024 New County Finds of Eradicate List Noxious Weeds

In 2024, two Prohibited Eradicate species were confirmed for the first time in three counties

*By Emilie Justen, The Minnesota Department of Agriculture* - Noxious weeds can damage public health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. Protecting Minnesotans from the negative effects of these annual, biennial, or perennial plants falls to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with assistance from county agricultural inspectors (CAIs), township supervisors, and city mayors.

Noxious weeds are designated into four categories: Prohibited Eradicate, Prohibited Control, Restricted, and Specially Regulated. The worst offenders, and our highest priority efforts, are in the Prohibited Eradicate category. To prevent these species from becoming widespread throughout the state, the law requires species in this category to have all above and below ground plant parts destroyed.

The power of teamwork with our many partners helps the MDA successfully detect noxious weeds in the Prohibited Eradicate category and confirm unrecognized species. In 2024, two Prohibited Eradicate species were confirmed for the first time in three counties:

*Species*



*County*



Palmer amaranth ("Amarannthus palmeri")



Morrison and Steele



Hooked hair hops (formerly Japanese hops) ("Humulus japonicus")



Washington



Palmer amaranth is an annual noxious weed affecting row crops that is resistant to many herbicides and significantly reduces crop yields. Hooked hair hops is an annual vine that has escaped cultivation and is displacing desirable species along rivers and streams.

A vine twines around a tree branch. Leaves are deeply lobed. [ [link removed] ]

Hooked hair hops has prickles on the stems that help it twine around branches.

*Download picture here.  [ [link removed] ]*

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The MDA has found fewer Prohibited Eradicate noxious weeds in new counties since 2019. Several species (meadow knapweed, poison hemlock, and round leaf bittersweet) were moved from the Prohibited Eradicate category to the Prohibited Control category in 2023; before then, those species turned up in new counties often. After years of surveying and mapping these species, they had become too widespread to remain in the Prohibited Eradicate category.

The MDA verifies reports and collects samples of Prohibited Eradicate noxious weeds when possible for the official University of Minnesota herbarium records. The MDA also helps local governments with weed management and enforcement of the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law. The MDA provides training to CAIs, who enforce the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law.

You can learn more on an upcoming episode of the MDA's podcast, Smarty Plants. The February episode will cover the Noxious Weed List and new county finds. It will feature a conversation with an MDA and a Department of Natural Resource expert. Smarty Plants podcast episodes are available on the MDA website [ [link removed] ], our YouTube channel [ [link removed] ], Apple Podcasts [ [link removed] ], and Spotify [ [link removed] ].

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For more information on noxious weeds and invasive insects, listen and subscribe to Smarty Plants [ [link removed] ], a Minnesota Department of Agriculture podcast. 

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






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