Unwanted Plants Threaten Crops in North-Central US
2024-01-24
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1Across the north-central United States, weeds that resist control efforts are worrying farmers.
2This development is the latest sign that weeds are becoming resistant to chemicals faster than major companies can make new weed-fighting products.
3Scientists say that some sorts of weeds are developing resistance to chemicals used to destroy them.
4Reuters news agency recently spoke with more than 20 farmers, scientists, weed specialists and company leaders.
5The news agency also studied eight research papers published since 2021.
6The studies described how weeds, including kochia, waterhemp, and giant ragweed, are affecting crops in North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
7Over the last 20 years, chemical companies have reduced the percentage of revenue meant for research and development spending.
8These companies are also introducing fewer products, says AgbioInvestor, a company based in Britain that studies the agricultural chemical industry.
9Farmers say their battle with weeds threatens grain and oilseed harvests at a time when growers face inflation and extreme weather.
10"We're in for big problems over the next 10 years for sure," said Ian Heap of the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds.
11It is a group of international scientists who work with governments and industry.
12He added, "We are in for a real shake-up."
13The research group has a database of information on the reduced effectiveness of glyphosate, one of the most common weed-killing chemicals, against 361 weed species, including 180 in the U.S.
14These weeds affect corn, soy, sugar beets and other crops.
15Around the world, 21 weeds globally showed resistance to dicamba, the most recent major U.S. chemical, which launched in 2017.
16Environmental groups argue that farmers should embrace natural weed-control methods instead of chemicals.
17One Kochia plant can spread as many as 30,000 seeds.
18It can result in yields reduced by up to 70 percent if nothing is done to stop it.
19That information comes from Take Action, a farmer resource program of the United Soybean Board.
20Other issues, including the development of stronger seeds, have pushed overall crop yields higher around the world.
21But scientists expect weed problems to worsen. Some weeds are even showing resistance the first time they are treated with chemicals.
22In Douglas, North Dakota, farmer Bob Finken used dicamba and glyphosate to kill weeds late in the growing season.
23Neither product completely killed kochia.
24"That was really scary," said Finken, age 64. "Each year seems to get a little worse."
25Finken had to clear the weeds with harvesting equipment, which risks damaging the machinery.
26Other farmers are hiring workers to pull weeds by hand, said Sarah Lovas of GK Technology, an agriculture company.
27North Dakota was the largest spring wheat producing state in 2023 and ninth-biggest soybean grower.
28Five of North Dakota's 53 counties have confirmed populations of dicamba-resistant kochia.
29That is only one year after it was first reported in the state, said Joe Ikley of North Dakota State University.
30"It's just a matter of time before it hits your farm," said 65-year-old Monte Peterson who grows soybeans near Valley City, North Dakota.
31Chemical producers Bayer, Corteva and FMC say longer development and government approval processes have limited new products to combat weed resistance.
32Industry leaders also say officials have become stricter about possible environmental and health effects.
33The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said standards for approving new herbicides have not changed greatly since 1996.
34However, the EPA said recent efforts to study the effects of new active ingredients on threatened plants and wildlife have delayed some decisions.
35The EPA did not estimate the increased processing time. The agency said it speeds up studies of lower-risk products.
36I'm John Russell.
1Across the north-central United States, weeds that resist control efforts are worrying farmers. This development is the latest sign that weeds are becoming resistant to chemicals faster than major companies can make new weed-fighting products. 2Scientists say that some sorts of weeds are developing resistance to chemicals used to destroy them. 3Reuters news agency recently spoke with more than 20 farmers, scientists, weed specialists and company leaders. The news agency also studied eight research papers published since 2021. The studies described how weeds, including kochia, waterhemp, and giant ragweed, are affecting crops in North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. 4Over the last 20 years, chemical companies have reduced the percentage of revenue meant for research and development spending. These companies are also introducing fewer products, says AgbioInvestor, a company based in Britain that studies the agricultural chemical industry. 5Farmers say their battle with weeds threatens grain and oilseed harvests at a time when growers face inflation and extreme weather. 6"We're in for big problems over the next 10 years for sure," said Ian Heap of the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds. It is a group of international scientists who work with governments and industry. He added, "We are in for a real shake-up." 7The research group has a database of information on the reduced effectiveness of glyphosate, one of the most common weed-killing chemicals, against 361 weed species, including 180 in the U.S. 8These weeds affect corn, soy, sugar beets and other crops. 9Around the world, 21 weeds globally showed resistance to dicamba, the most recent major U.S. chemical, which launched in 2017. 10Environmental groups argue that farmers should embrace natural weed-control methods instead of chemicals. 11One Kochia plant can spread as many as 30,000 seeds. It can result in yields reduced by up to 70 percent if nothing is done to stop it. That information comes from Take Action, a farmer resource program of the United Soybean Board. 12Other issues, including the development of stronger seeds, have pushed overall crop yields higher around the world. But scientists expect weed problems to worsen. Some weeds are even showing resistance the first time they are treated with chemicals. 13In Douglas, North Dakota, farmer Bob Finken used dicamba and glyphosate to kill weeds late in the growing season. Neither product completely killed kochia. 14"That was really scary," said Finken, age 64. "Each year seems to get a little worse." 15Finken had to clear the weeds with harvesting equipment, which risks damaging the machinery. 16Other farmers are hiring workers to pull weeds by hand, said Sarah Lovas of GK Technology, an agriculture company. 17North Dakota was the largest spring wheat producing state in 2023 and ninth-biggest soybean grower. 18Five of North Dakota's 53 counties have confirmed populations of dicamba-resistant kochia. That is only one year after it was first reported in the state, said Joe Ikley of North Dakota State University. 19"It's just a matter of time before it hits your farm," said 65-year-old Monte Peterson who grows soybeans near Valley City, North Dakota. 20Chemical producers Bayer, Corteva and FMC say longer development and government approval processes have limited new products to combat weed resistance. Industry leaders also say officials have become stricter about possible environmental and health effects. 21The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said standards for approving new herbicides have not changed greatly since 1996. However, the EPA said recent efforts to study the effects of new active ingredients on threatened plants and wildlife have delayed some decisions. 22The EPA did not estimate the increased processing time. The agency said it speeds up studies of lower-risk products. 23I'm John Russell. 24Rod Nickel and Tom Polansek reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 25_______________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27weed - n. a plant that grows very quickly and covers or kills more desirable plants 28shake-up - n. is an important change or series of changes. 29yield - n. the amount of something that is produced by a farm 30standard - n. an acceptable level of quality or achievement; something that is used to judge the quality of something else