see also: in June 2007 News Releases:   CBP, ATF Join Canadians in Launching Firearms Public Information Campaign Along U.S.-Canadian Border   Marijuana-Embedded Bricks Crumble at El Paso Port   FDA, CBP Advise of Potential Health Risks from Unpasteurized Cheese After Large Cheese Seizures at Laredo Border   CBP Officers Discover Exotic Birds at California Border Station   U.S., New Zealand Establish Joint Trade Security Arrangement   CBP Reminds Pleasure Boaters of Reporting Requirements When Returning from Foreign Locations   California CBP Officers Find Smuggled Persons in Truck Engine Compartment ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Eagle Pass, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Eagle Pass port of entry recently detected in a rail container various seeds of itchgrass, a federal noxious weed that can cause starvation in cattle if allowed to enter and establish itself in the U.S.

CBP agriculture specialists conducting routine examinations of rail cars entering the U.S. from Piedras Negras, Mexico on May 23 noticed some vegetation within a rail container. Upon closer examination, CBP agriculture specialists discovered that the grasses and plants found in the rail car appeared to be itchgrass, a federal noxious weed. Noxious weeds are defined by federal regulation as plants or plant products that can directly or indirectly injure or cause damage to crops, livestock, agricultural interests, natural resources of the U.S., public health or environment. CBP agriculture specialists detained the rail shipment pending positive identification of the plants.

Today, a U.S. Department of Agriculture botanist in Laredo positively identified plant material retrieved from the rail car as Rottboellia cochinchinensis, commonly known as itchgrass. Itchgrass is an aggressive weed native to tropical Asia and Africa that displaces other grasses and has needle-like hairs on its leaf sheaths that break off in the skin and can cause painful infections. Cattle or other livestock who eat itchgrass will get cracked lips and to avoid the pain they simply stop eating.

CBP agriculture specialists detained the railcar until it could be cleaned. They supervised the cleaning to ensure that no federal noxious weeds remained before it was allowed to proceed northbound.

“This detection of itchgrass by CBP agriculture specialists in a railcar underscores the importance of agricultural portion of the CBP mission,” said John Salazar, CBP Port Director, Eagle Pass. “Given the prominence of the cattle industry in the South Texas area, if these noxious weeds entered the U.S. commerce, they would pose a significant threat to American farmers, livestock and would displace native plant species.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.