North Dakota’s Noxious Weed Task Force had their first meeting in Bismarck on Tuesday. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said there were three objectives for the exploratory meeting: “establish a clear understanding of what the law is and where responsibility lies, the accountability of county weed officers, and we also need to tear all of this apart to better understand what we’re dealing with. We also need a new approach to noxious weeds.” At the end of the meeting, the group discussed raising awareness of noxious weeds, but no additional meetings dates were set. For future meetings, task force members emphasized the importance of having all stakeholders at the table, including tribes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers.
