(1) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce may conduct inspections and promulgate and enforce quarantine regulations as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this article.

(2)

(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall, from time to time, make rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions and requirements of this article, including rules and regulations under which his inspectors and other employees shall:

(i) Inspect places, plants and plant products, and things, and substances used or connected therewith;

(ii) Investigate, control, eradicate and prevent the dissemination of insect pests, diseases and noxious weeds; and

(iii) Supervise or cause the treatment, cutting and destruction of plants and plant products and other things infested or infected therewith.

(b) No rule or regulation shall be effective unless first submitted to and approved by the advisory board established under the provisions of Section 69-25-3.

(c) The inspectors and employees employed by the commissioner may carry out and execute the regulations and orders of the commissioner and under direction of the commissioner carry out the provisions of this article.

(3) To carry out the provisions of this article, the commissioner or his representative may enter into compacts and memorandums of agreement and/or understanding with governmental agencies or private organizations. The Bureau of Plant Industry may establish statewide or regional cooperative weed management areas for any or all of the weeds listed as noxious under officially promulgated regulations. Under such authority, the Bureau of Plant Industry may serve as lead agency in establishing control and/or eradication programs for regulated pests and noxious weeds and actively seek grants and external resources to provide matching resources for other avenues of funding.