Weed Commissioner

Weed Commissioner

Feel free to visit the ISU Extension website for more information on many of the weeds that are considered noxious (photos are included):  https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/iowas-noxious-weed-law-chapter-317
 

TAMA COUNTY NOTICE

for the Destruction of Noxious Weeds

To All Property Owners and Tenants:

The Board of Supervisors of Tama County issues this notice pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 317 of the 2025 Code of Iowa:

1.  Each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Tama County, shall cut, spray or otherwise destroy all NOXIOUS WEEDS thereon, as defined in this chapter, at such times and in such manner as shall prevent said weeds from blooming or coming to maturity and shall keep said lands free from such growth of any other weeds as shall render the streets or highways adjoining said lands unsafe for public travel.  NOXIOUS WEEDS shall be cut, sprayed or otherwise destroyed on or before the following dates and as often thereafter as is necessary to prevent seed production, or spreading by roots or other means. Plant maturation dates may vary.

Group 1.          May 15, for Musk Thistle and Quack Grass; June 10, for Leafy Spurge, Perennial Peppergrass, Sheep Sorrel, Sour Dock, Smooth Dock, and Wild Sunflower.

Group 2.          June 20, for Canada Thistle, Russian Knapweed, Buckthorn, Wild Mustard, Buckhorn Plantain, Poison Hemlock, and Shattercane.

Group 3.          July 15, for Horse Nettle, Perennial Sow Thistle, Bull Thistle, Field Bindweed, Palmer Amaranth, Butterprint, Cocklebur, Wild Carrot, Puncture Vine, Multi-Flora Rose, Teasel, and all other species of Cirsium and Carduus; this means all thistles closely related to biennial thistles. Also Pampas Grass

2.  The owner and each person in the possession and control of any lands in Tama County infested with any NOXIOUS WEEDS, including perennial sow thistle, Canada thistle, Palmer amaranth, field bindweed, horse nettle, leafy spurge, perennial peppergrass, Russian knapweed, shall adopt a program of cutting, tillage, cropping, treatment by chemicals or combinations thereof approved by the County Weed Commissioner, which in five years may be expected to destroy and immediately keep under control such infestations of said NOXIOUS WEEDS.

3.  If the owner and each person in the possession and control of any lands in Tama County fail to comply with the foregoing orders, the Weed Commissioner shall issue a fine for violation of at least $10/day up to 10 days for failure of the destruction of noxious weeds per the provision of Chapter 317 Code of Iowa, as of the date the notification is served. If the violation continues after 10 days of the notification is dated, the Weed Commissioner will hire the destruction of weeds on the property.  Fines and costs of destruction will be assessed against the real estate and collected in the same manner as taxes.

4.  The County Engineer and Weed Commissioner will provide signs for posting areas not to be sprayed, without cost, to landowners desiring to limit roadside spraying in their area.

NOTICE

Get your (DO NOT SPRAY) signs free from the Tama County Auditor 104 West State Street, Toledo 641-484-2740 or Laura Wilson, Weed Commissioner, 129 W High St, Toledo, 641-484-4788 ext 103 by May 31st.

LAURA WILSON, WEED COMMISSIONER

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Curt Hilmer, David Turner, Heather Knebel, Mark Doland, Curk Kupka

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*Iowa Code Chapter 317 can be found here:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/317.pdf

*Iowa Administrative Code 58 can be found here:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/03-19-2025.21.58.pdf 

*Tama County Weed Control Ordinance 5.12 can be found here: https://www.tamacounty.iowa.gov/files/county_ordinances/5.12_weed_control_535.pdf

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