ND: NOXIOUS WEED SPREADING IN NORTH DAKOTA

News Date August 18, 2009

State weed control officials say that the noxious weed, absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.), appears to be spreading in parts of North Dakota. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring urged producers to report wormwood infestations to local county or city weed officers, and he also asked retail and wholesale garden suppliers to stop selling absinth wormwood.

North Dakota reported 554,175 acres infested with absinth wormwood in 2008. Absinth wormwood is readily controlled by a variety of herbicides and research is now underway to find biological agents to control it. State law requires landowners to control the spread of noxious weeds on their property. Producers should contact their local weed board for cost-share assistance. (Contact Ted Quanrud at: (701) 328-2233)