Senate Passes Weeds Legislation

Ranchers and farmers who long have urged the government make invasive weeds a priority are making strides as weeds legislation picks up speed in Congress. 

 “Harmful, non-native terrestrial weeds affect the agriculture productivity of ranches and farms because they have little or no forage value for livestock and crowd out other vegetation,” says Myra Hyde, director of environmental issues for NCBA. “In addition, they can destroy the rangeland’s unique ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and weeds pose an environmental and safety threat because they encourage wildfire.”

 The Noxious Weed Control Act of 2003, first drafted by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) more than two years ago with the close assistance of NCBA, passed in the Senate on March 4.  The bill authorizes the Interior Secretary to develop a dedicated program to combat invasive weeds and provides assistance to eligible weed management entities in carrying out projects to control or eradicate invasive weeds on both public and private land. 

 The Harmful Invasive Weed Control Act of 2003 (H.R. 119), introduced Jan. 7 in the House by Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), contains similar language and remains in committee.  NCBA, state affiliates and cattle producers are working with key members of Congress in the House to fast-track H.R. 119.

 “Invasive weed species are of serious concern in California, where yellow starthistle alone now occupies up to 15 million acres throughout the state,” says Ben Higgins, executive vice president of the California Cattlemen’s Association.  Statistics from the U.S. Department of Interior estimate that noxious weeds have infested 17 million acres of federal land in the western United States. “Grasslands and shrublands, often called rangelands, occupy about 35 percent of the land area of the lower 48 states — 861 million acres,” says Hyde.  “These are the lands that cattle producers rely on to feed their cattle and the health of these lands is critical to ensuring economic viability.”