6-27 IAN Outsmarting Weeds

 Outsmarting weeds.

 I talked to farmers on a regular basis about how they are managing their weed problems in view of increasing tolerance to herbicides. I’m not going to tell you that they sound panicked, but I am going to tell you that farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated and nervous about the proliferation of weeds in their crops and their perception that herbicides are not nearly as effective as they used to be. So I turned to old friend Douglas R. Jones Executive Director, Growers for Biotechnology and asked for his input on the problem. “There is no question that there are weeds that are developing tolerance. I can find you 50 articles, particularly in the Southeast where they don’t have winters like we do. What can we do with all of the Roundup Ready’s and so on, what do you think ultimately is going to happen? The newer technologies coming ice seeds that are not just tolerant to one herbicide but a stacked combination of herbicides. 2 or more products which gives a  farmer a lot more tools in his toolbox in terms of what he treats with and farmers are getting smarter about how they farm and the rotations they use and their management. So yes we have to adapt because the weeds adapt. Not an impossible situation. Another way of saying that is we have to be as smart as weeds. That’s right.