2021 Fall Farm

Page 30 2021 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct. - Nov. 2021 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. 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. Continue 4