This loss in productivity affects the cost of food you purchase in the grocery store. This cost is often passed on to you, the taxpayer. Noxious weeds are also responsible for depredating Idaho s wildlands. Lands infested with noxious weeds have higher erosion potentials, lower habitat values for native animal species, crowd out native plant species, and impact recreational opportunities by infesting campsites. There are many challenges to managing noxious weeds.
Noxious weeds are by definition difficult to control.
They are often resistant to mechanical and cultural practices and existing herbicides. But there are several other barriers to effective weed control. There is often a lack of public awareness of the extent and seriousness of the weed problem that leads to limited public and legislative support and involvement in combating weeds. This limited support leads to a lack of effective partnerships for pooling of resources and insufficient human and fiscal resources. With insufficient resources, weed control efforts are often spotty and lack planning and monitoring for effectiveness.