Remember first that HTCs are not new. All crops where herbicides are used are, by definition, herbicide tolerant. If they were not tolerant to the herbicides that are used, they would be killed along with the weeds when herbicides were applied. So the first point to make is that it is interesting to hear the vocal discussion about this issue now, but it has not been such a contentious issue in the past. I do not want you to think that there are not important new questions raised by this technology, but this debate should have been going on for a long time.
Herbicides are the favored method of weed control for most farmers.
Listed below are a number of points of concern that have been raised by various individuals and groups who are concerned about the consequences of this technology, and some comments that address these. HTCs will result in an increase in the acreage that is treated with herbicides by farmers and growers. HTCs will lead to increased use of herbicides. However, each herbicide application is an additional expense, reducing potential profit. I think it unlikely that farmers will incur extra costs for the sake of a really clean field.