Cotton growers in the Southeast have been dealing with weed resistance since the first case was confirmed in Georgia in 2005. While it spread rapidly in that region, Texas cotton growers have been comparatively resistance-free – but not anymore, according to Dr. Paul Baumann with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension who gave growers an update at the Beltwide Cotton Production Conference Tuesday.
“Over the past couple years, 2011-2012, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of reported or suspected sites, particularly for common waterhemp,” he said. “We have confirmed resistance in a large percentage of these sites. Bottom line is – we’ve got the issue.”
That’s mainly in southern Texas, but there is resistance rapidly developing in the plains as well where they have found a large number of sites with resistant Palmer ameranth pigweed. “We that being one of the major cotton production areas, this is a big issue for us,” Dr. Baumann said.
He says they believe one reason Texas has been slower to develop resistance to glyphosate is that growers have already been using multiple modes of action, which is the primary way to fight the problem.
Listen to my interview with Dr. Baumann here: Paul Baumann interview
