A Storm Rising
It’s not hard to find glyphosate-resistant weeds in Georgia. Just ask Lee Prather, a Syngenta sales representative there. Prather realized how much of a challenge he and the producers in his area were facing when dead weeds started showing up next to perfectly healthy weeds. And, this was happening in fields where weed control measures had seemingly been done correctly. Palmer pigweed no longer leaves any doubts about how tough it is to kill with glyphosate, or its ability to spread. What started in a few counties is now estimated to cover the entire state.
The biggest challenge
Since that time, it has been easy for Prather to advocate the message of being proactive–using multiple modes of action rather than simply glyphosate and the importance of using a residual. Seeing the devestating effect that Palmer pigweed can have on fields is an easy motivator.
Prather’s first-hand experience heeds a warning to fellow producers in the Midwest where glyphosate resistance hasn’t been a problem to the extent it has in Georgia. Proactive resistance management becomes a necessity, not an option.
You have to be proactive
Resistance Fighter of the Year
Do you know someone who has influenced your weed management decisions and helped you and others manage resistance in your area? Nominations are now being accepted for Resistance Fighter of the Year through Monday, November 30, 2009, at http://www.resistancefighteroftheyear.com/. Eligible nominees include retailers, consultants and county extension agents who have successfully implemented resistance management practices with producers in their area.