The BC Weed Control Act is a Provincial Act that imposes a duty on landowners to control designated noxious weeds. This legislation enables the Regional District to appoint inspectors and enforce control.
The purpose of this legislation is to protect farmland and farmers against the spread of weeds which may become extremely costly to control or manage. Hundreds of nuisance weeds exist in all agriculture areas and, although they cause economic losses, they are generally so widespread that enforcement is impractical.
Noxious weeds on the other hand are usually widespread and further distribution would lower economic returns from farmland or hamper future agricultural activity and growth.
North East Invasive Plant Committee 2010 Plan and Profile 
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Peace-Liard Re-Vegetation Manual (2 MB)
Weed Control Defined
Weed control is defined as preventing the formation of viable seed by integrated weed management methods.
Reasons for Weed Control
- To protect farmland and prevent economic loss:
In BC, direct losses in crop production due to weed competition is estimated to be over $41 million annually. This does not include yield losses in pasture and range lands, lower crop quality or increased production costs to control weeds. - To protect wildlife habitat and prevent environmental loss:
For example, Knapweed reduces forage potential by up to 90 percent by destroying the forage base. This can result in a significant decline in wildlife populations. - To prevent the invasion of new harmful weeds!
The majority of the prohibited noxious weeds are not found in these areas. Report any suspicious weeds.
How to Prevent Weeds from Spreading
The landowner or occupier can control the spread of noxious weeds by ensuring that only clean seed free of noxious weeds as designated for this area is purchased and used here. This particularily applies to seeds imported to the area from other parts of BC and other provinces.
Clean equipment before moving from one location to the next. This applies not only to farm equipment but to industrial and recreation equipment as well.
Tarp loads. When hauling grain or moving hay, loads should be tarped or covered if suspected of containing noxious weeds. Care must be taken at all times to ensure that no weed seeds can escape to establish in new areas. Harvest hay before weed seeds have become viable.
Try to prevent marginal lands from becoming infested with noxious weeds in order to prevent livestock, wild animals or birds from transporting weed seeds from area to area. Keeping cultivated and marginal acres under control will also help reduce the spread of noxious weeds by wind or water.
Enforcement
Owners and occupiers of land who currently do not have noxious weeds have the right to be protected from having new weeds introduced due to actions (or inaction) from careless neighbours.
On land where noxious weeds are found, the inspector may issue a notice requiring their control. Not all noxious weeds receive enforcement under the Act; however, enforcement depends on how serious the situation is in a given area and on the weed inspector’s assessment as to whether enforcement would be practical.
Failing to comply with an “Official Notice to Occupier to Destroy Weeds” is an offence under the Act as is spreading designated noxious weeds via transportation of infested seed, crop, hay, machines and vehicles.
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