[RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

[Holly Sletteland]

I for one don't think you are overreacting and do think this is a subject
that is appropriate for the restoration community to address.  The
development of herbicide resistant crops has NOT led to a decrease in the
application of these chemicals as the herbicide companies promised, but
rather a substantial increase.  This is resulting in more herbicide
resistant weeds (let alone other issues such as ground water pollution)
reducing the effectiveness of a tool in our toolbox. It's also leading to
agricultural fields that are too clean.  The dramatic drop in monarch
populations is increasingly believed to be stemming from the loss of
milkweed.  Part of it is development to be sure, but a large part of it is
the loss of milkweed in agricultural fields where it used to be relatively
common.   What other native "weeds" are we losing that are critical to the
food chain?  And of course, drift is always an issue with large-scale
herbicide applications. It's not supposed to happen, but we all know that it
does periodically  with irresponsible applicators.  If you provide contact
info, I'll be happy to send an email.

 

_______________________________________________

 

Holly Sletteland

Preserve Manager

Morro Coast Audubon Society

PO Box 1507

Morro Bay, CA 93443

805.772.1991 / 805.239.3928

_______________________________________________

 

 

From: rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Krohn, Alison
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:37 AM
To: rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

 

Has anyone on the list kept up with or followed the expansion of herbicide
resistant crops?  Monsanto is petitioning USDA to approve 2,4-D resistant
corn (isn't corn already resistant?).  I'm very concerned about the
widespread reintroduction of 2,4-d in response to Roundup resistant
"superweeds" and to kill alfalfa (especially roundup ready alfalfa) for
rotation into another crop.  I know the organic farming community has been
fighting this but what about restoration folks?

 

We grow native forbs and grasses in Nebraska for seed and experienced 2,4-d
drift last spring when an adjacent alfalfa field was sprayed with 2,4-d and
glyphosate to rotate into corn.  I can't isolate the herbicide damage from
the August dry weather but we did experience a 70% decline in perennial
sunflower seed production.  We filed a complaint with our state regulators
and after finding the "lost" report they warned the operator not to do it
again.  The tissue samples showed evidence of both herbicides on our field.


 

We use herbicides to manage some troublesome species but we spot spray.  It
seems to me the potential impact on roadside refuges of native plant
communities may be severe if herbicides like 2,4-d and dicamba are used more
frequently.  Have any other agencies or advocates weighed in on the
proliferation of herbicide resistant crops and the potential impacts on
adjacent native plant communities?  Am I overreacting?

 

Thanks for your time

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