Comments atlas has made

  • Time to kill "superweeds"

    The evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds is not unique to glyphosate. Populations resistant to synthetic auxin herbicides were documented as far back as the 1950s. Resistance to triazines and acetolactate synthase inhibitors accompanied the extensive use of these two herbicide classes in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively. However, it wasn't until the anti-biotech movement in the 1990s that the term "superweed" entered regular rotation. "Superweed" is not a scientific term; it is an insidious media buzzword that has no place in any serious discussion of agricultural or weed management issues.

    That being said, it is important to view glyphosate-resistance in a broader context.
    The current development of glyphosate-resistant weeds comes as a surprise to no one given its current level of use, however the rate of resistance evolution is low relative to other herbicide classes. And new cases of resistance to herbicides other than glyphosate have essentially ceased in the last three years. So the overall rate of development of herbicide-resistant weeds has actually declined as a direct result of the widespread use of glyphosate-based weed management.

    A couple other points to consider: 1) The increased use of glyphosate, a relatively safe compound, has been accompanied by a decline in the use of other less eco-friendly herbicides such as atrazine. 2) Chemical weed management in general, and glyphosate in particular, has enabled the continued growth of no-till agriculture, which has a myriad of benefits for both farmers and the environment.

    Chemical weed management has its benefits and its weaknesses, just like every other human endeavor. Resistance is an inevitable consequence of any repeatedly used pest management tactic, chemical or not. Growers have dealt with resistance by rotating management tactics and incorporating new ones, and will continue to do so in the future. Herbicide resistance is a problem, but to characterize it as some sort of corporate conspiracy is absurd, and the use of imflammatory rhetoric in its discussion undermines the development of broader scientific understanding.On In Arkansas, state ag officials turn to Syngenta to solve problems caused by Monsanto posted 1 year, 8 months ago 4 Responses