County sets noxious weed destruction rates

April showers bring more than just May flowers - they bring weeds, too. And as seeds start to wake up and sprout from the ground, the time comes to remember to take care of noxious weeds on your property before the county weed commissioner does it for you.

Monday, the Clarke County Board of Supervisors approved the 2026 rates for noncompliance with the Order for Destruction of Noxious Weeds at the cost of $40/hour for labor and cutting weeds, $175/hour for tractor and mower if needed, current county mileage rate per mile for mileage associated with the expense of destroying noxious weeds, the cost of a certified letter and a 25% administrative fee; the fee excluded the county’s secondary roads and conservation departments. The rate per hour was increased last year by the supervisors as a way to deter people from not taking care of the destruction on their own.

Per Iowa Code Chapter 317 and the Chapter 58 of the lowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Administrative Code Chapter 58, all Class A noxious weeds are to be eradicated and Class B noxious weeds controlled.

Class A noxious weeds specified are Palmer amaranth. Class B noxious weeds are: Canada thistle, teasel, leafy spurge, bull thistle, European morning glory or field bindweed, multiflora rose and all other species of thistles belonging in the genus of Carduus.

Other Noxious Weed Species listed in Chapter 317.1(A) to be controlled are: quack grass, perennial sow thistle, horse nettle, perennial peppergrass, russian knapweed, buckthorn, butter print, cocklebur, wild mustard, wild carrot, buckhorn plantain, sheep sorrel, sour dock, smooth dock, poison hemlock, wild sunflower, puncture vine and shatter cane.

Costs associated with the description of noxious weeds are billed to the landowner, and if not paid will be assessed to the tax role. A non-compliance fee may also be given by the weed commission for up to 10 days at the rate of $10 a day.