Cochise County is bordered on the east by New Mexico and on the south by the Republic of Mexico. It is approximately 80 miles square and contains 4,003,840 acres.
Agriculture is a major contributor to the economy of the county.
The threat of Russian knapweed to the economic stability of Cochise County therefore has the potential for great impact. In 1996, the Arizona Department of Agriculture met with Cochise County Cooperative Extension concerning Russian knapweed infestations in Southeastern Arizona. This meeting initiated the formation of a working group to take action against the growing Russian knapweed problem in Cochise County. The working group was comprised of representatives from the Arizona Department of Agriculture, The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arizona Department of Transportation, and National Park Service. The working group's membership represented both public and private interests for noxious weed management in southeastern Arizona.