"The evil Pigweed:" New "superweed explosion" threatens crops

Looks like a new pest is making things pesky for farmers, on top of other woes this year like the historic drought.


Source for the following:
www.france24.com...


"Superweed" explosion threatens Monsanto heartlands

...A new pest, the evil pigweed, is hitting headlines and chomping its way across Sun Belt states, threatening to transform cotton and soybean plots into weed battlefields.


In late 2004, “superweeds” that resisted Monsanto’s iconic “Roundup” herbicide, popped up in GM crops in the county of Macon, Georgia. Monsanto, the US multinational biotech corporation, is the world’s leading producer of Roundup, as well as genetically engineered seeds. Company figures show that nine out of 10 US farmers produce Roundup Ready seeds for their soybean crops.


Superweeds have since alarmingly appeared in other parts of Georgia, as well as South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, according to media reports. Roundup contains the active ingredient glyphosate, which is the most used herbicide in the USA.

Lots more at source link.





[edit on 4/21/09 by silent thunder]

reply to post by silent thunder


interesting how this is starting to make headlines in the West, i remember posting an entire thread aboutt he consequences of GM cropping and the inevitable time when the only suriviors in the field will be the ones you wanted there the least.

A Bitter Harvest - GM crops turned sour


it's extremely simple, the plant or pest you are targetting is facing the greatest pressure to adapt - which it does. all the rest gets destroyed by your efforts and that glyphosphate resistance which would normally mean diddly squat suddenly becomes crucial.

now they either have the choice to reflect and ditch the magic bullet that is roundup and outgrow the weed rather than try to poison it or keep going until everything falls apart under their toxic load.