Weed Management in 2008 - New Opportunities, Existing Issues and Anticipated Problems

There are a number of new opportunities in weed management for 2008. However, issues continue to surface and problems are likely to escalate in the future. Specifically, there are new herbicide resistant crop options that will be available in the near future, new herbicides and changes in existing proprietary herbicides. Glyphosate continues to dominate as the weed control tactic of choice, and given the importance of bio-renewable fuels in the future, more herbicide resistant corn will be planted. The selection pressure that will be imposed on the weed communities as a result of grower adoption glyphosate resistant corn, as well as the continued inclusion of glyphosate resistant soybeans in crop plans is increasing. While the benefits of the glyphosate technology are many, there are several unintended consequences. These unintended consequences include new weed problems, evolved glyphosate resistance and volunteer crop management issues. Furthermore, the need for alternative weed management strategies is reinforced and the development of new herbicides becomes critically important. The paper will provide an overview of new herbicide resistant crops, new herbicides, and weed problems