Nebraska Noxious and Invasive Species

The State of Nebraska has had a noxious weed law for many years. Over the years, this law has undergone numerous revisions with the most recent having been made by the 2007 Nebraska Legislature.

The term "noxious" means to be harmful or destructive and comes from the Latin word "nocere," meaning to harm, or the Greek word "nekros," meaning dead body. In its current usage, "noxious" is a legal term used to denote a destructive or harmful pest for purposes of regulation. When a specific pest (in this case, a weed) is determined to pose a serious threat to the economic, social, or aesthetic well-being of the residents of the state, it may be declared noxious.

Noxious weeds compete with pasture and crops, reducing yields substantially. Some noxious weeds are directly poisonous or injurious to man, livestock, and wildlife. The losses resulting from noxious weed infestations can be staggering, costing residents millions of dollars due to lost production. This not only directly affects the landowner, but erodes the tax base for all residents of the state. The business of noxious weed control is everyone's concern, and their control is to everyone's benefit. The support of all individuals within the state is needed and vital for the control of noxious weeds within Nebraska. .[1] For the complete Noxious Weed Control Act, please follow this link.

What is the Nebraska Watch List?

Started in 2002, the Nebraska Watch List serves as a early detection, rapid response to potential invasive species that may impact Nebraska's ecosystems or economy. These species may one day become noxious weeds in Nebraska, however until this happens, they will be monitored. Some counties have already added some of these species as either county added noxious weeds or have started controlling them voluntarily.

*[1.] From the Nebraska Deptartment of Agriculture's website