Rise of the Superweeds - Farmers Cope With Roundup-Resistant Weeds

[groovedaddy]

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — For 15 years, Eddie Anderson, a farmer, has been a strict adherent of no-till agriculture, an environmentally friendly technique that all but eliminates plowing to curb erosion and the harmful runoff of fertilizers and pesticides.

But not this year.

On a recent afternoon here, Mr. Anderson watched as tractors crisscrossed a rolling field — plowing and mixing herbicides into the soil to kill weeds where soybeans will soon be planted.

Just as the heavy use of antibiotics contributed to the rise of drug-resistant supergerms, American farmers’ near-ubiquitous use of the weedkiller Roundup has led to the rapid growth of tenacious new superweeds.

To fight them, Mr. Anderson and farmers throughout the East, Midwest and South are being forced to spray fields with more toxic herbicides, pull weeds by hand and return to more labor-intensive methods like regular plowing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/energy-environment/04weed.html?th&emc=th

[WeDidIt]

1. I wonder if the Monsanto scientists ever studied evolutionary theory?

Evolutionary theory would dictate that eventually, the only weeds that would be left would be those that would survive the introduction of a force that killed off most of them.

Nature out-Monsantoed Monsanto and developed its own Roundup gene.

[CrispyQ]

3. Your final sentence is outstanding!

There was a time when corporations were useful tools of humanity. Now, we are their tools. I don't think humanity has a chance until we rein these behemoths in & return them to their proper place in our society. Will enough of The People wake up in time to make this happen?

[Webster Green]

2. Who could have predicted such a thing could happen?

Anyone with half a brain. :wtf:

[texastoast]

4. Unbelivable!

Well, no, actually, the smart people expected it.

[bergie321]

5. Don't worry,

I am sure Monsanto will come up with an even deadlier poison that we can spray on our "food".

[watrwefitinfor]

6. My farm magazine says they are working on it!

Shhhhhh. It's really a chemical magazine, but don't tell the farmers...

Wat