Penn State researcher says super-weeds are closing in on Pennsylvania

Suggested Intro:

AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS HAVE WARNED THAT HERBICIDE-RESISTANT WEEDS ARE A GROWING NATIONAL PROBLEM. A PENN STATE EXTENSION SPECIALIST SAYS SEVERAL RESISTANT SPECIES ARE CURRENTLY THREATENING PENNSYLVANIA. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY.

Story:

(:18) THE PROBLEM OF WEEDS THAT HAVE BECOME RESISTANT TO GLYPHOSATE -- THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN "ROUND-UP" HERBICIDE -- HAS GOTTEN SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT NEW STRATEGIES ARE NEEDED TO COMBAT THEM. PENN STATE EXTENSION AGRONOMIST DWIGHT LINGENFELTER SAYS AT LEAST THREE GLYPHOSATE-RESISTANT SPECIES ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR PENNSYLVANIA, REQUIRING STRONG COUNTER-MEASURES:

Lingenfelter Actuality:

(:18) "WE NEED TO LEARN OUR LESSON FROM WATCHING OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST OF US. THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEM IN THESE OTHER REGIONS IS THEY WERE RELYING ON A SINGLE MODE OF ACTION -- THAT BEING GLYPHOSATES. 'MODE OF ACTION' MEANS WAYS THAT THE HERBICIDE AFFECTS THE PLANT TO KILL THE PLANT. THERE'S ABOUT TEN DIFFERENT MAJOR MODES OF ACTION OUT THERE. YOU CAN COMBINE THOSE TO GET CONTROL OF THE PARTICULAR SPECIES YOU'RE GOING AFTER."

(:11) LINGENFELTER SAYS THE DIVERSITY AND ROTATION OF CROPS GROWN IN PENNSYLVANIA GIVES IT AN ADVANTAGE OVER STATES IN THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING OFF RESISTANT WEEDS. FROM PENN STATE, I’M GARY ABDULLAH.

LEARN MORE:

"Growing Roundup-resistant weed problem must be dealt with, expert says"