New Weed Resistance Hits Nebraska: Waterhemp to HPPD-Inhibiting Herbicides

Managing to Avoid Herbicide Resistance

It is easy to fall into a trap of overusing the same herbicide, or the group of herbicides with the same mode of action, when those products provide good weed control. However, the fact that some herbicides provide good weed control in the first few years of use does not mean they will provide the same level of weed control in future years. Repeated use of the same herbicide can put tremendous pressure on weed species to either develop resistance, or to shift from those easily controlled by the label rate to those more tolerant to it.

One example of this is the increase in glyphosate resistance. Almost 20 weed species worldwide – 11 in the U.S. – have developed resistance, due to repeated use of glyphosate. Therefore, proper use of any herbicide as a component of an integrated weed management program, is the key for preserving the long-term benefits of such technology while avoiding many of the concerns about its use, or misuse.

Simply put, rotating herbicides with different modes of actions will make all herbicides last much longer for future generations.