Atchison County Noxious Weed Director Reports Uptick in Chemical Sales, Annual Report Approved

Ben Taylor, Atchison County’s Noxious Weed Director, told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 24 that chemical sales rose about 12% over last year and that he corrected an error in the revenue calculation he submitted to the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).

Taylor said the county’s internal sheet now shows total revenue of $148,808.46. He gave a breakdown of chemical volumes sold this year — 417 gallons of amine and 859 gallons of ester — and said county receipts from chemical sales after cost‑share adjustments totaled $35,002.61. Taylor said suppliers kept prices lower than initially expected, so the county ordered as needed rather than stockpiling to avoid price‑risk exposure.

The director said the increase in chemical sales is a sign that the county’s cost‑share program is working and that outreach — including three warning notices and door‑to‑door contact with landowners — has improved compliance. He also noted continuing certification requirements: both he and Joe (last name not specified) are certified applicators, and the county will send a staff member to a continuing‑education conference to maintain licenses.

Taylor said the KDA plans to add four new noxious weeds to the state list in April, pending legislative processing, and flagged a regulatory concern: some treatments use glyphosate, which he said carries a label restricting use to agricultural areas, prompting questions about its application in city limits.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the annual noxious weed eradication progress report and authorized the chair to sign the documentation.

The county provided the report during the regular meeting; no petitions or formal appeals were recorded.