Kochia is an invasive weed thriving in western Kansas. A professor at Kansas State has discovered that kochia has developed a resistance to the herbicide Roundup.
While Monsanto scientists are developing genetically modified seeds that won’t be harmed by Roundup, this lowly weed is developing its own resistance to Roundup without any outside help.
There is a lesson here, but neither Monsanto nor midwest growers will learn it.
(This information came from “Weeds’ Glyphosate Resistance Stems From Increase in Gene Copies,” Lancaster Farming, Feb. 28, 2015, p. A26. Amazingly enough, if you google kochia, you can find sources for ordering seeds. How stupid can we get?)
No comments:
Post a Comment