Resistant Superweeds that Monsanto's Roundup Can't Beat
Submitted by Allegory on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 18:31http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/12/gm-crops-rou...
When Monsanto revolutionized agriculture with a line of genetically engineered seeds, the promise was that the technology would lower herbicide use—because farmers would have to spray less. In fact, as Washington State University researcher Chuch Benbrook has shown, just the opposite happened.
Sixteen years on, Roundup (Monsanto's tradename for its glyphosate herbicide) has certainly killed lots of weeds. But the ones it has left standing are about as resistant to herbicide as the company's Roundup Ready crops, which are designed to survive repeated applications of the agribusiness giant's own Roundup herbicide.
For just one example, turn to Mississippi, where cotton, corn, and soy farmers have been using Roundup Ready seeds for years—and are now struggling to contain a new generation of super weeds, including a scourge of Italian ryegrass.
"Fight resistant weeds with fall, spring attack," declares a headline in Delta Farm Press, a farming trade magazine serving the Mississippi River Delta. The article's author, a Mississippi State University employee, lays out the challenge:
In 2005, Italian ryegrass resistant to the commonly used herbicide glyphosate was first identified in the state. Since then, it has been found in 31 Mississippi counties and is widespread throughout the Delta. This glyphosate-resistant weed emerges in the fall and grows throughout winter and early spring.
http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/12/gm-crops-rou...
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There are other herbicides to kill those weeds.
Look people, this isn't any different than the use of say antibiotics and how they create super bugs. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take advantage of new tech that can save lives. The resistant weeds can easily be killed using other herbicides, but soybeans may need to be replaced by corn or wheat instead.
Also there area already new herbicides available and being created to replace glyfosate. It is all part of the creation and use of new tech. Reverting back to how it was 20 or 30 yrs ago isn't an option if you want to feed the world.
Analogy
Now imagine the original weed problem was something voters asked government to take care of, and that our Monsanto-government came up with a solution that made things worse.
The main problem with the analogy is that Monsanto can't mandate we continue to use their product forever, the way the government often does when something doesn't work.
Of course, what the government has done, is make so many advantages to huge farms, that we are closer to having all eggs in one basket, and fewer smaller farms to maintain diversity of techniques of production.
There's a reason why it's better for society if some people embrace change and some don't, and they're free to decide for themselves.
What do you think? http://consequeries.com/
Toxic Farming
All these herbicides will be drifting into the crops of independent farmers. The organic farmers don't stand a chance. "Over the last four years, more than $1 million in damages have been filed in lawsuits and insurance claims by Midwestern growers who have suffered crop losses due to 2,4-D and dicamba that has drifted onto their farms."
In 2013, Monsanto will roll out a new 2,4D resistant corn and a more volatile 2,4D herbicide. Monsanto claims it will not drift into other areas. The new herbicide is going to be less expensive which makes it more attractive; however, 2,4D is an ingredient in Agent Orange. 2,4-D was a major component (about 50%) of the product Agent Orange used extensively throughout Vietnam.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-crops-petition-...
Goodbye Organic Farmers:
"2,4-D is a volatile herbicide that is prone to drift beyond the field of application to damage neighboring crops and wild
plants. 2,4-D vapor injures most broadleaf (i.e. non-grass)
plants at extremely low levels, as low as three-billionths of a gram per liter of air. Particularly sensitive crops include grapes, soybeans, sunflower, beans, tomatoes, cotton and lettuce, but 2,4-D can injure almost any broadleaf plant."
I found several of the herbicides used to kill Italian ryegrass. Paraquat (Gramoxone Inteon) is pure poison. Paraquat “is the best product we have right now for emerged Italian ryegrass." It you inhale Paraquat, you may die. On the packaging it says, "If the person is not breathing, call 911."
http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/Labels/AlfClover/Herbici...
Dual Magnum: Don't Inhale.
http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/pdf/labels/scp818al1m0...
Select Max: Can cause birth defects in animals. But not if used at normal levels.
http://deltafarmpress.com/management/glyphosate-resistant-ry...
"With enough of us, around the world, we’ll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge — we’ll make it a thing of the past." ~ Aaron Swartz
monsanto's reaction:
1. sue anyone who claims roundup doesn't work
2. continue to sue
3. pay off politicians.
4. repeat ad naseum.
ROFL as if this wasn't planned
The first question any farmer should have asked is: What company creates a product that will diminish the profits of its other product?
When will everyone wake up to the fact that Monsanto is not only evil but completely idiotic?
Did the researchers there really not know that plants/nature evolve and find ways to counter whatever man does to it? Just like certain bacteria/viruses are now 'super-bugs' as they've mutated because of the over-use of hand-cleansers/vaccines.
The egomaniacal senselessness of that company is mind-blowing.
I bet they're working furiously to create seed that is resistant to whatever knew 'glyphosate-like' product they are developing now. It will be a viscious circle with that wretched company until it's brought down.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
James Madison
It will end ...
... badly.
Reporting on the world from an altitude of 420.
For us, that is
Monsanto has seed patents, tons of money and tons of political influence.