Noxious weeds affect everybody.
Weeds cost natural ecosystems and agriculture millions of dollars annually by depleting wildlife habitat, reducing recreational value and crop yields. Noxious weeds spread very rapidly and can completely choke out valuable forage for wildlife and livestock. Most noxious weeds are not native to North America. These weeds are generally not a problem in their native habitat because there are natural control measures such as insects and competitive vegetation. When weeds are introduced into environments which are not their own, they can run rampant.