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 The primary contributor
enabling the adaptation of pests is using the same control measures.
Insect, disease and fungal resistance varies between species and
chemicals, but inevitably problems develop after a few years of
consecutive use of a single product.
A pesticide is a chemical used to kill, repel, or control plant or
animal life considered to be a nuisance. Pesticides contain active
and inert ingredients to control crop irritants. Inert ingredients
are chemicals, compounds, or other substances intentionally added to
the pesticide for product performance and usability.
The gene pool of a pest can change to protect the pest from the
chemical.
Pesticides are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency
before manufacture, transport, and sale to protect human health and
the environment. It takes years of testing before a pesticide is
approved for use in the open market in the United States.
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant that has been
genetically altered in a laboratory. It allows individual genes to
be transferred from one variety of plant to another. This creates
combinations of plants that do not occur in nature and/or speedier
than traditional crossbreeding methods. One advantage to planting
pest resistant GMOs is improved crop production. But the pests are
even adapting to GMOs.
Seed diversity is of value in keeping pests from adapting. There is
some concern that chemical companies may eventually have control of
the seed market and a reduced variety of seeds would be available.
Resistance describes the decreased responsiveness of a pest
population to the pesticide or GMO that was previously effective at
controlling the pest. The most resistant specimens survive and pass
on their changed traits to their offspring. Resistance is increasing
across the United States even though pesticides and GMOs are being
used. There are multiple factors for resistance:
1. Pest species produce offspring with mutations that ensure the
rapid expansion of resistance.
2. Pesticides that fail to break down quickly contribute to
resistant strains.
3. Increasing pesticide quantity and frequency intensifies the
problem.
4. Pests with faster reproduction rates develop resistance more
quickly.
Weeds and insects are adaptable organisms that develop resistance
against herbicides and insecticides over time, both metabolic and
genetic. Through mutations a weed's DNA changes interfering with the
way the herbicide works. If an herbicide can no longer bind to a
weed's DNA, it stops being effective. The more farmers that use the
same herbicide to kill weeds the more likely weeds are to resist.
Weeds are the number one yield-robbing pest.
The most common example of herbicide resistance are crops that do
not respond to glyphosate. Glyphosate is the most widely used
herbicide in the world. Weeds resistant to glyphosate have emerged.
The same happens with insects. Two methods of resistance have been
uncovered by researchers: 1.) heightened rates of decontamination by
the insect, and 2.) altered target site. This resistance has been
found around the globe in hundreds of species of insects.
John Fulton, of Logan
County, says that the stacked trait seeds that have been coming out
are not keeping up with pests adaptations, the pests are still
winning, specifically important to Illinois farmers is corn
rootworm.
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Corn rootworm generally hatch
in late May or early June after the corn has been planted. The
larvae begin feeding on and pruning corn roots. Due to the time when
rootworm damage happens, any control must be chosen prior to
planting.
The development of resistance to Bt traits, corn rootworm is an
ongoing problem. Bt produces a protein that paralyzed the larvae of
corn rootworm. A bacterium, not toxic to humans, is deadly to corn
rootworm when ingested.
Whatever control a farmer uses for corn rootworm, effectiveness
should be monitored by examining roots after pollination. When
resistance is suspected, the best alleviation is to rotate the corn
crop to soybeans.
While opposition to pesticides and GMO’s remains a conundrum to
farmers there are some techniques to combat some resistance:
1. Cultivate to control weeds.
2. Reduce nutrient sources such as plant stubble that can harbor
disease.
3. Rotate pesticides.
4. Use chemical mixtures with differing effective modes of action.
5. Use pesticides with short soil residual times.
6. Clean equipment before moving to a different field to prevent the
spread of pests.
7. Change seed varieties.
8. Rotate crops.
Another option is on the horizon. Imagine you're driving through the
serene country side and you suddenly realize there is a star wars
battle in your periphery. Robots with laser precision are zapping
weeds dead. Adapt to that you pests!
See Carbon Robotics
https://carbonrobotics.com/
The goal of successful resistance management is to reduce
populations of weeds and insects. Over time, a proactive weed and
insect management plan should weaken pests presence, reduce the need
for costly control inputs and increase yields for a healthier
environment and bottom line.
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