80-7-902. Findings -- purpose. (1) The legislature finds that:

(a) natural resources of the state need to be protected from noxious weeds and their seeds;

(b) the movement of agricultural crops or commodities as livestock forage, bedding, mulch, and related materials, including pellets, cubes, and other processed livestock feeds with noxious weed seeds, causes new and expanding noxious weed infestations on private and government-managed lands, which adversely impact agricultural, forest, recreational, and other lands;

(c) it is necessary to develop and implement a state forage and product noxious weed seed free program in cooperation with federal, state, and local government, the university system, and private enterprise;

(d) an educational program is needed to inform all citizens of the importance of the incentive to market and handle forage that is free of noxious weed seeds;

(e) a cooperative forage and product distribution system with federal, state, local, and private land manager participation is needed to prevent increased noxious weed infestations;

(f) compliance standards involving the import or export of forage, in cooperation with county weed districts and the department, are needed; and

(g) to the extent there is a need for standards and good practices for other materials to prevent the spread of noxious weeds, seeds, and other invasive organisms, the department may create options for proof of compliance in a cost-effective manner to protect the state and to provide options for businesses.

(2) The purpose of this part is to promote incentives to benefit the people of this state and other states by producing and making available forage and other materials free of noxious weeds and their seeds.