Section 24-05-20 - County and township road grades and ditches to be back sloped - Planting of grass - Plant pest controlAll county and township roads shall be constructed with back sloped grades and ditches. Such grades and ditches shall be sloped to a sufficient degree to permit farm implements used for cutting and gathering hay to operate thereon, and such grades and ditches shall be cleared of all stones or other obstructions that would hinder the operation of such implements. Upon completion of such newly constructed or reconstructed roads, the governing body having authority over such roads shall plant grass upon the back slopes of the grades and ditches. The grass or hay growing upon or within the right of way of such roads may be cut for hay by any owner or tenant of lands adjoining the right of way.
1. The governing body of a township or a county may control, or cause to be controlled, grasshoppers and other plant pests which are infesting vegetation in the road rights of way under their authority. Only pesticides that are labeled for use on forage crops may be used so that the forage may be cut and used for hay. At least three days prior to treatment, the governing body of the township or county shall provide written notice to all of the landowners or tenants, or both, of all land adjacent to the rights of way to be treated. The notice must include the approximate date of treatment, the name of the pesticide that will be used, and any restrictions on the harvest and use of the treated forage. If a landowner or occupant of land adjacent to the road right of way to be treated gives notice opposing the treatment to the governing body of the township or county prior to the treatment date that section of the right of way must be excluded from treatment. The landowner or tenant of the land is responsible for clearly marking or flagging the section of the right of way to be excluded from treatment.2. The governing body of a county may enter into agreements with the department of transportation for the purpose of controlling grasshoppers and other plant pests in state highway system rights of way. The governing body of a township may enter into agreements with the governing body of a county for controlling grasshoppers and other plant pests in rights of way of the county road system. The governing body of a county may use the county emergency fund, as provided for in section 57-15-28, to pay for the cost of control in rights of way of the county road system. The county emergency fund may also be used to cost share with townships for control expenses in township rights of way. The electors of an organized township may appropriate funds as provided for in section 57-15-19 for controlling grasshoppers and other plant pests in rights of way controlled by the township.