2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 2. Agriculture › §2-3-220. Noxious weeds - Eradication.

A. 1. The plants musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.), Scotch thistle (Onoprodum acanthium L.), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) are designated as noxious weeds. The Legislature finds that these thistles are a public nuisance in all counties across this state.
2. It shall be the duty of every landowner in each county to treat, control, or eradicate all Canada, musk, or Scotch thistles growing on the landowner’s land every year as shall be sufficient to prevent these thistles from going to seed.
3. The Department of Transportation, the boards of county commissioners, and any other public, private, or corporate entity who shall maintain rights-of-way in the State of Oklahoma shall be responsible for removing any thistle infestation that occurs within their jurisdiction.
4. Failure of the landowner to treat, eradicate, or control all musk, Canada, or Scotch thistle may result in a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation per day.
5. Upon written complaint, the State Department of Agriculture shall inspect the type of thistle infestation, assess the nature and extent of the thistle infestation on the property of the landowner and determine the most appropriate thistle treatment, control, or eradication method available for the type of thistle and location of the property.
B. The Board shall:
1. Promulgate rules setting categories or degrees of infestation which would require specified treatment, control, or eradication;
2. Include musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles as prohibited noxious weed and weed seed pursuant to the Department’s authority and responsibility under Article 8 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Code;
3. By November 1, 2000, and annually thereafter prior to the growing season of musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles, complete an annual survey detailing the degree of infestation of these thistles across the state. The results of these surveys shall be reported to Oklahoma State University; and
4. In all counties of this state, provide information to newspapers of general circulation stating that musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles are a public nuisance and that it is the duty of every public, private, or corporate landowner to treat, control, or eradicate these thistles growing on any property owned by the landowner. The information shall be provided at the beginning of the cycle of growth of the musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles and at other times as necessary to inform landowners of the provisions of this subsection. The information material shall also include:
a.
information detailing the process by which an interested landowner may receive assistance pursuant to this subsection for the removal of thistles from infested property,
b.
the telephone number of the Department, and
c.
a statement informing the landowner that failure to remove musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles may subject the landowner to legal action requiring the treatment, control, or eradication of these thistles.
C. Upon request of the landowner or the Department, the designated Oklahoma State University extension agent for a particular county shall evaluate or, if there is no extension agent for a particular county, the Department shall inspect the type of thistle infestation, assess the nature and extent of the thistle infestation on the property of the landowner, and determine the most appropriate thistle treatment, control, or eradication method available for the type of thistle and location of the property.
Added by Laws 1994, c. 204, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 49, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1998, c. 294, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 239, § 1, emerg. eff. May 27, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 11, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2000; Laws 2000, c. 367, § 28, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000.