Concerns over glyphosate resistance seen rising

Timing follows increasing numbers in the U.S., three species in Ontario

By: Ralph Pearce
COUNTRY GUIDE

A recent survey by Stratus Agri-Marketing of Guelph has found concerns on the rise about herbicide-resistant weeds among farmers in Eastern Canada -- specifically, resistance to glyphosate is gaining more attention.

In the U.S., an online survey in 2012 found upward of 61.2 million acres of cropland have some species of glyphosate-resistant weed. That's almost one in four acres in the U.S., and nearly double the 32.6 million acres with one resistant species in 2010.

More alarming, 49 per cent of farmers surveyed across 31 states say they now have glyphosate-resistant weeds on their farms. In Georgia, that number jumped to 92 per cent. In one year -- from 2011 to 2012 -- Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana saw a near doubling of acres with resistant weeds.

(More here.)