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On October 17, 1968, President Johnson signed the Carlson- 

 Foley Act, which would permit State officials to destroy noxious 



» 



plants on Federal lands, and the State would be reimbursed to 

 the extent of available Federal funds. 



In order to iully utilize the provisions of this Federal 

 Act, it is necessary to have enabling legislation, so that the 

 Massachusetts Department of Agriculture may have a qualified 

 weed control law and receive full benefits of the Act. 



It has been estimated that weeds^ by limiting yields and 

 impairing quality, reduce potential agricultural productivity 

 by about 3$« each year. VJe have other losses by weeds including 

 human discomfort from weed pollens and poisonous plants, streams 

 clogged by weeds and made useless for boating and fishing, v;ater 

 wasted by aquatic plants, and scenic values impaired by unattrac- 

 tive vegetation. 



In addition, weed control is a major item in farm pro- 

 duction costs and may be a source of contamination to the en- 

 vironment. Nationally, our iarmers spend an estimated 2^^ billion 

 in fighting weeds each year, in contrast with /i30 million in 

 controlling crop insects, and 230 million in restricting damage by 

 plant diseases. 



Effective weed control is an essential factor in our 

 efficient production of food and fiber to meet our domestic needs. 

 Agriculture faces a tremendous challenge in meeting future demands 

 for lood and fiber, I'or our own people and for export. Every 

 opportunity for increasing agricultural productivity, including 

 weed control, must be exploited. 



