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Weed scientist says weed resistance starts in first year

A weed scientist is taking an evolutionary approach to explaining weed resistance to farmers.

Aaron Hager with the University of Illinois says research shows farmers no longer have a grace period when it comes to managing herbicide resistance on the farm.  “The evolution of resistance or the selection for resistance – it doesn’t start seven years after you use the product,” he says.  “It starts the very first year.”

Hager says stewardship matters.

He tells Brownfield they’re researching ways for farmers to better preserve trait technology for years into the future.  “Tank mixing two or more target site herbicides together is a much more effective strategy to delay the evolution of resistance – than rotating from one herbicide one year to another herbicide the next year,” he says.  “In fact – that actually increased the frequency of resistance.”

AUDIO: Aaron Hager, University of Illinois