With planting underway and weeds close behind, farmers should remember that herbicide resistance is no longer just a regional issue. It’s a national threat. Though glyphosate resistance has been an issue in the south for years, it’s growing in severity in the Midwest and plains.
Managing existing herbicide-resistant weeds, such as waterhemp and palmer amaranth requires farmers to consider more complex weed-management strategies than just using glyphosate, according to University of Arkansas professor Jason Norsworthy.
“If you take a look at waterhemp today, there’s fields I’m aware of in the Midwest where you have A-list resistance. You have PPO resistance. You have glyphosate resistance. And if you plant Roundup Ready soybeans in those and that waterhemp emerges, you have absolutely no way of killing it in soybeans.”
The threat of herbicide resistance across the U.S. spurred the soy checkoff to lead the Take Action herbicide-resistance-management initiative, which encourages farmers to use diverse management plans to control weeds.
For tools and information on how to manage weeds on your farm this growing season, visit WWW.TAKEACTIONONWEEDS.COM.