Atchison County approves 2025 noxious weed management plan and eradication report

The Atchison County Commission approved the county’s 2025 Noxious Weed Management Plan and adopted the 2024 eradication progress report at its March 11 meeting.

Ben Taylor, Atchison County noxious weed director, presented the management plan and summarized the 2024 eradication activity. Taylor said county herbicide sales to the public remained roughly the same as the prior year — about $31,000 this year compared with nearly $32,000 the year before — and described the county’s approach to purchasing chemicals: the office requests per‑gallon quotes from suppliers and buys stock as needed to avoid holding product bought at higher prices.

Taylor reported field activity totals in 2024: he surveyed about 3,608 acres, and county spraying operations covered roughly 4,949 acres; of that sprayed acreage, about 317 acres were treated by “handspring” (walking) methods. He highlighted persistent problems with Johnson grass and musk thistle and said some species are spreading from neighboring counties.

Taylor also noted a legislative change discussed at a recent conference: common teasel and cut‑leaf teasel (spelled “teasel” in county materials) have moved from a county‑option listing to statewide noxious‑weed status, which gives county staff broader regulatory authority over those species.

The commission moved and seconded the management plan approval and the eradication progress report. Both motions passed on voice votes recorded as 2–0.