Take Action Against Glyphosate Resistance

2014 may be the year that many grain growers experience their first case of glyphosate resistance in annual ryegrass, warns Sarah Jeffrey, a leading Australian weed authority.

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) communications leader Peter Newman said Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported surveys in Western Australia and other Australian cropping regions indicated escalating resistance in annual ryegrass to the important knockdown herbicide.

“Analysis of a targeted (not random) survey - conducted in WA in 2013 as part of a GRDC-funded project - shows that more than 40 per cent of 172 annual ryegrass samples tested have some level of resistance to glyphosate,” he said.
“This pre-harvest survey, conducted by Sally Peltzer of the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA), focused on weedy grainbelt paddocks and its results are concerning.

“Random surveys of WA grainbelt paddocks conducted by AHRI’s Mechelle Owen in 2010 found that 7 per cent of 362 samples tested contained annual ryegrass with some level of resistance, up from 1 per cent in 2003.”

Mr Newman said random surveys in South Australia and New South Wales were also revealing increasing glyphosate resistance, as was analysis of weed samples sent to Australian herbicide resistance testing services.

“There is only one true long-term solution to this issue and that is to farm with a very low weed seed bank,” he said.

“But in the short-term, my message to growers is to not automatically reach for glyphosate and to instead use more paraquat-based products to give glyphosate a break.

“We need to use more paraquat-based products as either a single ‘knock’ or the second spray in the ‘double knock’ technique (two applications of knockdown herbicides applied at full label rates).”

However, Mr Newman said using more paraquat was not a long-term solution as over-use of this herbicide would result in paraquat resistance.

“Develop a long-term plan to declare war on annual ryegrass using chemical, cultural and mechanical methods,” he said.

Mr Newman said growers who found weedy patches in their farm this year should send samples for a ‘Quick-Test’ in which plants (mainly grasses) could be tested for herbicide resistance.

Information about the Quick Test service is available at www.plantscienceconsulting.com

Mr Newman said that if resistance was confirmed, growers should act immediately and not allow the resistant weeds to set seed.