Nearly 20 Weeds In Iowa Glyphosate-Resistant - Palmer Amaranth, Waterhemp Now Massive Problems

[hatrack]

EDIT

Nearly 20 weeds in Iowa have developed resistance to herbicides that include glyphosate, a once-in-a-century chemical that Monsanto brought to the market in 1976 under the name Roundup. It killed a broad range of weeds. Seed companies later introduced genetically modified soybeans, corn, cotton and other crops that were tolerant to glyphosate and other herbicides. It enabled farmers to spray fields for weeds without harming crops.

Seeds also have been modified so crops are resistant to insects and can better withstand environmental forces such as drought. Experts say the seeds have increased yields and, at least initially, enabled farmers to reduce the amount of herbicides and pesticides they used. Last year, nearly 160 million corn and soybeans acres nationally were planted with genetically modified crops, nearly tripling since 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a recent report. That's about 90 percent of all corn and soybean acres.

Critics blame farmers for creating herbicide-resistant weeds by overusing herbicides such as glyphosate and failing to diversify the crops they plant, relying on products such as Roundup Ready corn and soybeans year after year.

"Even though we warned them, you understand the economics behind it," said Robert Hartzler, an ISU professor of agronomy. "The current system favors the growth of corn and soybeans," prompting farmers to leave out rotations of other crops such as winter wheat that could disrupt weed resistance. "To make a reasonable living, you need to farm large acres, and to farm large acres, you need to cover acres quickly and that involves herbicides. Glyphosate was the best herbicide around," Hartzler said.

EDIT

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2014/06/22/superweeds-choke-farms/11231231/

[Botany]

1. Daylilies are now round up resistant too

n/t

[drm604]

2. Ironcially, Palmer Amaranth is edible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_palmeri

The leaves, stems and seeds of Palmer amaranth, like those of other amaranths, are edible and highly nutritious. Palmer amaranth was once widely cultivated and eaten by Native Americans across North America, both for its abundant seeds and as a cooked or dried green vegetable. Other related Amaranthus species have been grown as crops for their greens and seeds for thousands of years in Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, India, and China.

If it grows like a weed, you'd think it would be easy to cultivate it as a food crop. In fact, it's better off with less fertilizer.

The plant can be toxic to livestock animals due to the presence of nitrates in the leaves. Palmer amaranth has a tendency to absorb excess soil nitrogen, and if grown in overly fertilized soils, it can contain excessive levels of nitrates, even for humans. Like spinach and many other leafy greens, amaranth leaves also contain oxalic acid, which can be harmful to individuals with kidney problems if consumed in excess.

[KurtNYC]

4. I know farmers who plant amaranth as the summer version of quinoa

Glyphosate (aka Roundup) works by starving plants. It interrupts their ability to draw nutrients from the soil. Amaranth and quinoa thrive in depleted soils so it kind of makes sense that they would be best able to deal with glyphosate since it creates a similar equation.

The glyphosate molecule grabs vital nutrients and doesn’t let them go. This process is called chelation and was actually the original property for which glyphosate was patented in 1964. It was only 10 years later that it was patented as an herbicide. When applied to crops, it deprives them of vital minerals necessary for healthy plant function—especially for resisting serious soilborne diseases. The importance of minerals for protecting against disease is well established. In fact, mineral availability was the single most important measurement used by several famous plant breeders to identify disease-resistant varieties.

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/monsanto%E2%80%99s-roundup-triggers-over-40-plant-diseases/

[Botany]

5. Glyphosate works by disrupting protein synthesis

n/t

[KurtNYC]

3. USDA now pushing no-till farming

Conventionally, before planting a crop like conventional/GMO corn a farmer will till or herbicide (or both) the ground being planted into. No-till avoids disturbing the soil any more than is necessary. It may involve herbicide but it uses cover crops to maintain the nutrients in the soil and to avoid soil erosion. As the price of oil rises many farmers are exploring no-till as a way to reduce their costs and their labor while still getting yields as high or higher than conventional till and spray methods.

the whole film is there too.

[mopinko]

6. the way to go.

doing some large scale hugelkultur. no till. small enough to hand weed, but with good mulching, there arent that many. we keep the clover, and some others, especially where we arent planting yet.

we are accumulating quite the cadre of volunteers, also.