Richard Zollinger is weed specialist at North Dakota State University and part of an international monitoring network. Zollinger discovered four new herbicide-resistant weed varieties last year. He says it's critical to avoid the worst case scenario, a weed developing resistance to all herbicides. So far, that's happened only in Australia. We're scared of weeds adapting and developing the ability to withstand many different kinds of herbicides.
Mother nature is very crafty and very smart.
An international coalition of scientists is calling for a return to the weed control measures of yesteryear, including intensive tillage, animal grazing, burning and a greater variety of crops. The cost of these recommendations makes them unpopular with most farmers. Many farmers do, however, gamble on new compounds that will keep them one step ahead of herbicide-resistant weeds. Scientists agree that its a high risk gamble. Major funding for Minnesota Public Radio's regional Internet activities is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.