12-10 IAN Glyphosate Resistance

 Genetically altered crops have been slowly seeping into the U.S. supermarket since the 80’s. Now, nearly 75% of U.S. corn is genetically modified for either longer shelf-life or greater resilience against pesticides. But as we have reported recently, environmentalists are drawing the line at sugar-beets.

Roundup Ready sugar beets have a genetic resistance to the popular herbicide Roundup which contains a chemical called glyphosate. Organic farmers and environmentalists believe that Roundup Ready beets can cross-pollinate with nearby table beet farms, which would result in contaminating their crop. A San Francisco judge has put the 2011 sugar beet crop in Idaho in jeapordy but now more alarming news. Weed specialists say producers must take seriously the fact glyphosate resistance is becoming a serious problem. Here’s weed specialist Jeff Gunsolus: “You’ve got to diversify your chemistry. You’ve got to try other weed control practices if you want to keep this resistance problem in check so you can use this chemistry for a continued period of time.”

Gunsolus says farmers need to diversify their chemical weed control practices.