Agriculture / Weights and Measures

Throughout California, invasive plants displace native plants and wildlife, increase wildfire and flood danger, consume valuable water, degrade recreational opportunities, destroy productive range land, and increase production costs of agricultural commodities.

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Weed Management Program conducts surveillance throughout the county and coordinates with the San Luis Obispo County Weed Management Area (WMA) to efficiently identify new pest plants and signs of spread of existing noxious weed populations.  Once plants are found, physical removal, herbicide treatments, and biological control are the tools used to mitigate the spread of invasive pest plants.

The impacts of invasive plants are widespread across economic and environmental interests.  Coordinated efforts made by landowners, land managers and residents are essential for early detection, control, and possible eradication of these plants.  To learn more about the county’s weed pests, and current or past projects, please visit the SLO Weed Management Area (WMA) page.

Everyone can help reduce the spread of invasive weeds by purchasing hay and straw from local sources, cleaning footwear, camping gear and tires after hiking or biking, and informing the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures of unusual plants.  

For information about a certain invasive weed species, please visit:

• California Invasive Plant Council – Protecting California’s environment and economy from invasive plants (cal-ipc.org)
• California Department of Food and Agriculture's Encycloweedia
• CalFlora
• PlantRight