Kansas considers quarantine

Kansas agricultural officials are considering a quarantine to slow the spread of an invasive plant that’s threatening the state’s native grasses.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture recently sought public input on a plan to quarantine invasive yellow and Caucasian bluestem grasses, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported . The varieties have invaded all but three counties in Kansas.

Declaring the quarantine would prohibit the movement of all seeds, plants or parts of bluestem grasses within Kansas or across the border into the state.

The move could affect some ranchers who rely on the species when cutting hay to feed livestock.