The West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District was one of 27 projects to receive grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). 

MDA awarded $120,000 in total to combat noxious weeds across the state. The projects are being funded through the 2022 Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Grant.

The money, awarded to cities, counties, townships, conservation districts, and tribal nations, will be used to purchase equipment and supplies, conduct mapping and outreach activities, and hire private applicators to manage noxious weeds.

Noxious weeds are plants that have the potential or are known to be harmful to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. There are currently 48 plants on Minnesota’s Noxious Weed List.

Grant projects were awarded up to $5,000 to be spent in one year to support local activity. West OTC SWCD was one of 17 projects to receive the full $5,000, specifically for road right-of-way noxious weed control.

The MDA has awarded over $1 million since 2017 to local municipalities and tribal nations for projects that focus on noxious weeds throughout the state.