Red Lake Nation News - Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

In January, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) added Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense) to the Minnesota Noxious Weed List. Amur corktree is an introduced species that has been planted throughout the northeast and midwestern United States. It is tolerant of many urban conditions including drought and salt....

In January, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) added Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) to the Prohibited Eradicate Noxious Weed List. Johnsongrass is a tall perennial grass that grows up to 8 feet and can cause millions of dollars of lost agricultural revenue. It was first introduced into the United States as a forage...

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) - with assistance from County Agricultural Inspectors, township supervisors, and city mayors - helps protect the residents of the state from the negative effects of noxious weeds. A noxious weed is an annual, biennial, or perennial plant that is designated to cause harm to public...

A noxious weed is defined by the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law as an annual, biennial, or perennial plant that the Commissioner of Agriculture designates to be injurious to public health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. Noxious weeds are categorized into four regulatory categories: Prohibited Era...

Since 2017, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded grants through the Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Grant to counties and municipalities. With support from the Minnesota Legislature and the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the MDA has awarded over $1.2 million to 120 projects to mitigate the...

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has made one change to the state's 2021 Noxious Weed List. The designation of the non-native subspecies of phragmites (Phragmites australis spp. australis) has changed from Restricted to Prohibited Control. Though the list typically changes once every three years, the MDA is making...

A popular landscape plant, winged burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is October's Weed of the Month. Winged burning bush was added to the State Noxious Weed List in 2020 as a Specially Regulated Plant. The special regulation requires nurseries and growers to phase the plant out of production over the next three years, and on...

A perennial plant native to the Mediterranean is September's Weed of the Month. Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) was brought to the western United States as an ornamental, escaped cultivation, and has become a noxious weed throughout many western states. Dalmatian toadflax invades and overtakes grasslands, rangelands,...

A member of the milkweed family is August's Weed of the Month. Black swallow-wort (Cynanchum louiseae), also called dog-strangling vine, is a perennial, herbaceous vine that can form large patches and crowd out native vegetation. It was introduced to North America from southern Europe in the 1800s as an ornamental plant, and in...

July's Weed of the Month, cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus lacinatus), once had a useful propose. But now the weed is being targeted for eradication in Minnesota. Cutleaf teasel is an herbaceous perennial plant that dies after producing seed. It was brought to North America from Europe in the 1700s and its stiff, bristly seed heads...

In southeast Minnesota, an invasive woody vine has caused property damage and altered ecosystems with its prolific seed production and aggressive growth. Oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus) was first confirmed in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area in 2010, and has since been confirmed in multiple counties with the most...

Recently, giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) has been in national headlines after it was confirmed for the first time in Virginia. Although listed in Minnesota as a Prohibited Noxious Weed, giant hogweed has not been confirmed in Minnesota. In 2011, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Noxious...

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), as the regulatory agency for managing noxious weeds, helps local governments with weed management and enforcement of the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law. A noxious weed is defined by the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law as an annual, biennial, or perennial plant that the Commissioner of...

December's Weed of the Month is a small tree called Amur maple (Acer ginnala). It is native to China and Japan and was introduced to North America in the 1800s as an ornamental plant. Though valued for its brilliant fall color, it has become invasive throughout the eastern and Midwestern states, including Minnesota. Amur maple i...

November's Weed of the Month, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), is a woody vine with colorful red fruit. It was brought to North America from the Asia and used as an ornamental plant. The attractive vines have been used for wreath decorations and in floral decorations; unfortunately, the plant has escaped...

October's Weed of the Month is a tree called black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Black locust is native to North America but not native to Minnesota. It has been widely planted as an ornamental plant and for erosion control, and has been documented to be invasive in the upper Midwest. Black locust is a fast growing tree in the...

Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) is the second of four non-native honeysuckles on the Restricted Noxious Weeds list. It is native to Japan and was introduced to the United States in the 1800s. It was planted for a variety of uses, including ornamental plantings, for wildlife food and cover, and for erosion control. Morro...

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is one of four species of non-native honeysuckle listed as Restricted Noxious Weeds in Minnesota. It is native to Asia and was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant that was then widely planted for wildlife and erosion control. Amur honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub that can grow...

July's Weed of the Month is wild carrot (Daucus carota), also known as Queen Anne's lace. It is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced to North America as a vegetable crop. Since its introduction, wild carrot has naturalized and is found in every state, including a large part of Minnesota. Wild carrot is a biennial that...

A woody, perennial vine related to grape is June's Weed of the Month. Porcelain berry came to the United States as an ornamental plant from Asia and escaped cultivation. In Minnesota, it is a Restricted Noxious Weed and has been found naturalizing in Rice and Ramsey counties. Though similar to the native grapevine and climbs...

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast-growing, prolific seed producer that was listed in Minnesota as a Restricted Noxious Weed beginning in 2017. It is native to China and was brought to North America in the late 1700s as an ornamental shade tree. In urban areas, it can cause damage to sewers, pavement, and building fo...

Recently added to Minnesota's Restricted Noxious Weed List, crown vetch (Securigera varia) is difficult to control once it is established. It is native to central and Eastern Europe and the Caucus region of Asia. Crown vetch was widely planted as a groundcover, cover crop, and slope stabilizer, but these uses declined due to...

September's Weed of the Month is giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense). Giant knotweed has hollow, bamboo-like stems and grows over 12 feet tall, making it the largest of the invasive knotweeds. It forms tall, dense thickets that degrade habitats, particularly along riparian areas where it facilitates erosion and flooding....

Strategic invasive plant management begins with early detection and rapid response. New infestations are recorded and submitted to a national database. With high priority noxious weeds, collaborations between state and county agencies, landowners, and local partners help to formulate management plans. With the invasive plants on...

June's Weed of the Month is glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus). Glossy buckthorn is a highly invasive large shrub or small tree native to Europe and Asia. It threatens riparian, wetland, and upland forest areas. Glossy buckthorn forms dense stands that crowds out and completely displaces understory habitats. Glossy buckthorn...