A new study shows two dozen of Oregon's most significant invasive noxious weeds cause an estimated annual loss of about $83.5 million to the state's economy.
Losses include livestock deaths, reduced cattle foraging and wildlife grazing, smaller crop yields, decreased quality of seed and crop, and even the loss of available fishing and hunting opportunities.
Two weeds — Scotch broom and Armenian blackberry — contribute nearly $80 million of the losses.
Twenty-three other species are under intense management to stop their spread. The study shows if the state did nothing to control them, it could lead to potential losses of about $1.8 billion.
The study was prepared by The Research Group, LLC of Corvallis for the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Source - http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
