MDA Awards $95,000 to Combat Noxious Weeds

The Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District was one of twenty organizations that received a grant through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

All told, the MDA awarded $95,000 to combat noxious weeds across Minnesota through the 2021 Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Grant.

The money, awarded to cities, counties, townships, conservation districts, and tribal nations, will be used to purchase equipment and supplies, conduct mapping, and outreach activities, and hire private applicators to manage noxious weeds.

Noxious weeds are plants that have the potential or are known to be harmful to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. There are currently 48 plants on Minnesota’s Noxious Weed List.

Grant projects were awarded up to $5,000 to be spent in one year to support local activity.

The MDA has awarded over $1 million since 2017 to local municipalities and tribal nations for projects that focus on noxious weeds throughout the state.

Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District will use the $5,000 to manage invasive species along the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway.