Close to 90% of growers battle weed resistance in US

Herbicide resistance management continues to be a priority for corn and soybean growers in US, and they’re working together more effectively to slow the spread of resistant weeds, according to a survey sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection at the 2015 Commodity Classic in Phoenix, AZ.

The vast majority of growers surveyed (87%) said they are doing everything they can to prevent weed resistance on their own farms, a dramatic increase from respondents to a 2011 survey conducted at the same trade show, when 70% reported doing everything they could to control weed resistance.

The survey revealed increased confidence in other growers’ practices. More than half of growers (52%) surveyed reported they felt growers in their area were doing all they could to prevent weed resistance, a large increase from the 39% who answered that way in 2011.

Reinforcing that growers are serious about taking resistance management to the next level, 61% of growers surveyed in 2015 said they plan to increase their herbicide investment in 2015 and 21% said they would make a large increase in that investment. Only 3% of respondents said they will wait to see how the season unfolds to determine their herbicide investment, despite significantly lower expected commodity prices. One in three (32%) said they don’t plan to adjust their herbicide investment this season. For this survey, investment was described as increased time and/or money spent on crop protection.

“Weed resistance management is increasingly complicated, as weeds continue to evolve,” said James Hay, business director, North America, DuPont Crop Protection. “A season-long weed-control plan including herbicides using multiple modes of action is critical to triumphing over hard-to-control weeds and protecting yield.”

When asked about plans to control damage from disease or insects, growers indicated they value maintaining a strong crop protection plan year over year, as about 40% said they don’t plan to change their fungicide (39%) or insecticide (41%) investments this year. Only 5% of respondents said they will wait to see what happens this season before adjusting their fungicide and insecticide plans.

None of the growers surveyed said they will significantly decrease their crop protection inputs in 2015.

“Growers are aware of the increasing populations of resistant weeds and diseases spreading across the country and are doing what they can to protect profitability and sustainability of their operations by taking action against resistance,” said Hay. “Understanding those weed and disease pressures, local DuPont experts are helping growers find sustainable, integrated crop protection strategies to maximize their profits, minimize risk and protect yield potential.”