Managing Wicked Herbicide-Resistance: Lessons from the Field

Authors

Jill Schroeder, USDAFollow
Michael Barrett, University of Kentucky
David R. Shaw, Mississippi State University
Amy B. Asmus, RMS-Asmus Farm Supply, Inc.
Harold Coble, North Carolina State University
David Ervin, Portland State University
Raymond A. Jussaume Jr., Michigan State University
Michael D. K. Owen, Iowa State University
Ian Burke, Washington State University
Cody F. Creech, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
A. Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia
William S. Curran, Penn State University
Darrin M. Dodds, Mississippi State University
Todd A. Gaines, Colorado State University
Jeffrey L. Gunsolus, University of Minnesota
Bradley D. Hanson, University of California, Davis
Prashant Jha, Montana State University
Annie E. Klodd, Penn State University
Andrew R. Kniss, University of Wyoming
Ramon G. Leon, North Carolina State University
Sandra McDonald, Mountain West PEST
Don W. Morishita, University of Idaho
Brian J. Schutte, New Mexico State University
Christy L. Sprague, Michigan State University
Phillip W. Stahlman, Kansas State University
Larry E. Steckel, University of Tennessee
Mark J. VanGessel, University of Delaware

ORCID IDs

0000-0003-1485-7665

0000-0003-4462-5339

0000-0003-2551-4959

0000-0002-1924-3331

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Weed Technol 32:475–488.

Comments

© Weed Science Society of America, 2018.

Open access

doi: 10.1017/wet.2018.49

Abstract

Herbicide resistance is ‘wicked’ in nature; therefore, results of the many educational efforts to encourage diversification of weed control practices in the United States have been mixed. It is clear that we do not sufficiently understand the totality of the grassroots obstacles, concerns, challenges, and specific solutions needed for varied crop production systems. Weed management issues and solutions vary with such variables as management styles, regions, cropping systems, and available or affordable technologies. Therefore, to help the weed science community better understand the needs and ideas of those directly dealing with herbicide resistance, seven half-day regional listening sessions were held across the United States between December 2016 and April 2017 with groups of diverse stakeholders on the issues and potential solutions for herbicide resistance management. The major goals of the sessions were to gain an understanding of stakeholders and their goals and concerns related to herbicide resistance management, to become familiar with regional differences, and to identify decision maker needs to address herbicide resistance. The messages shared by listening-session participants could be summarized by six themes: we need new herbicides; there is no need for more regulation; there is a need for more education, especially for others who were not present; diversity is hard; the agricultural economy makes it difficult to make changes; and we are aware of herbicide resistance but are managing it. The authors concluded that more work is needed to bring a community-wide, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complexity of managing weeds within the context of the whole farm operation and for communicating the need to address herbicide resistance.