Atchison County adopts 2026 noxious-weed plan, adds mowing and hand-cutting in hard-to-reach areas

Atchison County commissioners approved the county's 2026 noxious-weed management plan, required by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, following a presentation from Ben Taylor of the county's Noxious Weed program. The motion to approve passed by voice vote, 2-0.

Ben Taylor told commissioners he revised the plan after attending other counties' meetings and added targeted mowing and hand-cutting in ditches and areas that standard mowers cannot reach. "What I'm talking about is, like, some down in some of the ditches and the to, mainly, it's gonna be weed trimming and but areas that they can't really get to in mowers," Taylor said. He also updated the equipment list to include a Chevy Colorado and a forklift that were not listed in last year's document.

Taylor said the county has avoided widespread use of Tordon because many crop fields lie close to treatment areas; instead, the county tried a newer product containing a Tordon derivative that is not a restricted-use chemical and will watch results this spring. "We've stayed away from using Tordon because in our county, we have too close to crop fields," he said.

Taylor recommended earlier and later seasonal work to treat rosettes in their first year, which he said reduces the plants' establishment the following year. The board approved the plan and Taylor signed the document for submission to the state.

Next steps: the county will file the approved management plan with KDA as required. The meeting record did not include estimated additional costs or staffing changes beyond noting that some work will be performed by existing personnel.