Cass County announced on March 31 that all individuals who occupy or maintain land within the county are required to control or eradicate noxious weeds, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.83. The notice applies to all residents and land managers throughout Cass County.
The requirement aims to prevent the spread of harmful plants that can impact agriculture, natural resources, and property values. Controlling or eradicating these weeds helps protect both private lands and neighboring properties from infestation.
According to the announcement, “Control or eradication may be accomplished by any lawful method, but the method(s) applied may need to be repeated in order to prevent the spread of viable noxious weed seeds and other propagating parts to other lands.” The county further stated that failure to comply with this general notice could result in an individual notice being issued. Individuals receiving such a notice have two working days from receipt to appeal it before a designated committee.
If an individual fails to comply with an official order, inspectors may arrange for the necessary work at the owner’s expense or pursue misdemeanor charges against those responsible. Costs incurred for hired work can be added as a tax lien on the property and collected along with regular real estate taxes.
Residents seeking information about which plants are classified as noxious weeds or details about members of the appeal committee are advised to contact their County Agricultural Inspector or local weed inspectors such as township supervisors or city mayors. Additional information is available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/minnesota-noxious-weed-listl or by contacting Dana Gutzmann, Cass County Agricultural Inspector.
