Crops in Crisis – Genetically Modified Seeds and SuperWeeds

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Genetically Modified Seeds and the

“Roundup Ready System”

Farming, with the exception of perhaps more efficient farming machinery, hasn’t really changed for centuries.

The farmer would till or turn over the soil and this tilling removed weeds and the waste from last season’s crops. This would also help break down old plant material into fertilizer.

But this method changed with the introduction on Monsanto’s patented “Roundup Ready System” of planting.

Monsanto is a company that produces a glyphosate herbicide with the trade name of Roundup. In addition, Monsanto was also able to create a genetically modified seed with a trait of being Roundup resistant.

Due to a unrelated 1980 Supreme Court ruling, they were able to patent this seed for their own exclusive commercial sell. They essentially “owned” this new form of biological seed-life as an intellectual property.

This genetically modified seed allowed the farmer to not till or only partially till the field before planting. For the farmer this saved time and fuel costs, allowing for greater profit and crop yields. The farmer could plant the seed and continually spray the crop with Roundup herbicide, killing everything but the crop that was planted.

So this system of farming was rapidly accepted, especially in the soybean and cotton markets, but also in crops like corn. For example, by 2010 over 93 percent of the soybean crops planted were with herbicide tolerant or HT genetically modified Monsanto seeds.

Genetically Modified Seeds and Super Weeds – Mother Nature fights back

But Mother Nature abhors lack of diversity and will always strike back with a vengeance.

The first resistant glyphosate populations were discovered in Georgia and North Carolina in 2005. Since that time, Arkansas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri have also confirmed glyphosate resistant populations.

In particular, the plant Amaranthus palmeri, otherwise known as Palmer Pigweed, has adapted to the herbicide glyphosate so effectively that it’s completely immune.

Tests have shown that the plants can thrive with as much as 280 ounces of glyphosate herbicide applied per plant.

Because of it’s ability to absorb large amounts of nitrogen from the soil, it’s toxic to livestock and humans. Each female plant can produce as many as 500,000 seeds that are wind dispersed. The plant has rapid growth, as much as a inch per day even under drought conditions.

By 2011, it’s expected that glyphosate resistant Palmer pigweed will infest all of the Georgia cotton-producing counties.

As the picture below indicates, several other varieties of weeds have also developed an immunity to Roundup herbicide.

So with this rapid growth of weed resistance, it would seem that the old method of tilling and weed removal would have to be re-implemented. And to some degree that is occurring.

But others are also recommending ways of fighting these new “SuperWeeds” with even more potent herbicides such as Gramoxone Max, the trade name for paraquat, or even 2,4,D, which is a component of the herbicide Agent Orange made famous during the Vietnam war.

Companies besides Monsanto are also coming out with genetically modified seeds that are resistant to other types of herbicides besides Roundup. But would that just be going from one environmental mess to another?

The economics of genetically modified farming methods and profits to be made are immense.

Let’s hope the integrity of testing for the safety and potential harm to the environment and the food supply can keep up.

The potential for disaster is far to great to just allow the market forces to be the only deciding factor in allowing usage.

Written by David Williams. – Are you a farmer? Genetically modified seeds, good or bad, you tell us.

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Cheshire Cat
12 years ago

I think that real seed is the by far the best option, but I can tell by reading this article that such things may be of the past, and I find that disgraceful.

oso
13 years ago

Undoubtedly the Shock ‘n Awe approach will continue, rather than regrouping and as you and Holte suggest return to real farmers using real seed to produce real food.

Reply to  oso
13 years ago

Oso, I tried to keep the post just about the troubles that this new farming technique has created by relying on GM seeds. Initially it was hailed as a new modern method to “feed the world” but in reality the crop yields aren’t much better and the amount of herbicides being used has actually increased. But it really creates a trap in a way for farmers because of the aggressive marketing techniques used and once committed it takes a lot to by any other seed. Since they cannot save the seeds and have to buy new seeds each year, it means a lot of money is on the line.

I didn’t really get into the hazards of Genetically Modified foods when they are used for food and food processes. Maybe a different post…

13 years ago

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tami Inman, Spirit Horse Herbals. Spirit Horse Herbals said: Crops in Crisis – Genetically Modified Seeds and SuperWeeds http://bit.ly/hFAWZv […]

13 years ago

It’s becoming a huge problem for farmers and a bigger issue for our food sources. They have relied so heavily on one method for so long that it puts a huge burden to shift back to the older methods. Stronger “scorched earth” burndown with pre-emergent herbicides surely have drawbacks as well.

Monsanto really has a strong hold on the seed market. The farmers must sign a long contract to use the GM seeds and they cannot save any for the following years. They must buy new seed each year.

To get an idea of the importance of these new superweeds, just google “Palmer Pigweed” and see the amount of effort and resources addressing the issue. Just a few of these weeds can completely destroy a crop.

Just like Holte mentioned with the antibiotic example. Eventually resistance builds up.

Admin
13 years ago

This is scary indeed. We keep messing with Mother Nature and like you said Krell she strikes back with a vengeance. I live in cotton country, with fields across the street from me and generally all over the county. I’ll have to ask my farmer friends about this. Thanks.

13 years ago

Reminds me of people who are constantly taking anti-biotics for every little ailment, prescribed by doctors who should know better, their bodies build up an immunity to the drugs and when they really need anti-biotics for something serious, nothing works.

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