Sharing knowledge and experience will help on the frontlines of resistance management.
A group of agricultural advisers are leading the charge against resistance. Syngenta founded the Resistance Fighter of the Year Leadership Program in 2009 to recognize agricultural advisers for their foresight into the threat herbicide resistance poses to agriculture and their drive to implement proactive techniques to manage that threat. Since then, the program has expanded to advisers fighting resistance in diseases, insects and nematodes. The program consists of county extension agents, sales agronomists and other agricultural advisers who have made significant contributions to managing resistance in their areas.
Membership Has Its Benefits
By connecting real-world experts working on the frontlines of resistance, the program has become a network of practical knowledge and experience. Members consult one another about resistancemanagement techniques to learn what has worked and what has not. With members from different regions, odds are good that at least one member has insight about a specific resistance issue.
Through the program, Syngenta is able to provide members with resources and opportunities that otherwise may not be available, such as interactions with resistance experts from around the world and getting a first look at some of the latest Syngenta resistance-related research.
Becoming A Resistance Fighter
To be a member of the Resistance Fighter of the Year Leadership program or to nominate an agricultural adviser who deserves to be honored for their efforts to manage resistance, visit www.resistancefighter.com and select the “apply/recommend” tab for further instruction.
The Resistance Fighter Team
Active members of the Resistance Fighter of the Year Leadership program are:
• Josh Bailey, Security Seed & Chemical, Clarksville, Tenn.
• Paul Barchenger, Hutchinson Co-op, Hutchinson, Minn.
• Clint Einspahr, Cargill Inc., Arapahoe, Neb.
• Tim Hambrick, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Scott Holder, Helena Chemical Company, Boyle, Miss.
• Jeremy Kichler, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Moultrie, Ga.
• Steve Muhlenbruch, NEW Cooperative Inc., Dows, Iowa
• Joel Spring, AgriLand Farm Services, Centerville, Iowa
• Scott Stallbaumer, JB Pearl Sales & Service Inc., Saint Marys, Kan.
• Jason Weirich, Ph.D., MFA Inc., Columbia, Mo.
Evidence Of The Need Of Resistance BMPs
A survey from researchers at Kansas State University featured in the most recent issue of the journal Weed Technology shows that herbicide-resistant weeds have begun to change the weed management practices used by growers.
For the period before 2007, 85 percent of respondents reported effective control of kochia in most fields using only glyphosate, and 91 percent reported effective kochia control using glyphosate plus dicamba. However, the percentage of respondents finding effective kochia control using only glyphosate decreased to 44 percent during 2007 to 2010 and eight percent during 2011 to 2012.
Although drought stress in the region partially explained poor control achieved in some years, the rapid and dramatic decline in effective control in this Kansas example emphasizes the need for growers to adopt weed resistance best management practices (BMPs) despite the added costs and reduced short-term profitability. The adoption of BMPs is required to maintain the same level of return as before on-farm occurrence of weed resistance. Diversifying weed management practices will help reduce the risk of weed populations evolving resistance to additional herbicide modes of action.
For more information, go to www.wssa.net, Weed Technology, Vol. 29, Issue 2, April-June 2015.