Abstract
Management of herbicide resistance can be most effectively accomplished if every person and organization involved in agricultural production takes an ownership position and participates in solving the growing problem of weed resistance to herbicides. Growers and other pest management practitioners are keys to effective herbicide resistance management since they make the final decisions on practices used. However, many other people and organizations have an important role to play as well. Agricultural input supply networks, including chemical companies, are a widely used information source for growers' decisions through company marketing efforts. Government agencies may influence decisions through regulations or incentive programs. University scientists through their research, education, and outreach programs may impact management decisions, and organizations such as professional societies, farm and commodity groups, public interest organizations, and the agricultural press play roles as well. It is critically important that all of these groups impacting herbicide resistance management decisions are sending the same message and that message is based on sound science. The time to act is now.
Highlights
For the most part weed scientists have been very successful in developing technical solutions to the problem of weeds, such as spraying herbicides to kill weeds
If a mindset change is necessary to avoid this tragedy of the commons, assuming there is still time, the mindset change requires a change in human values
Who better to guide this social issue than the social scientists who are familiar with agriculture? It is not enough to just bring the social scientists "into the fold" with weed scientists
Summary
Management of herbicide resistance can be most effectively accomplished if every person and organization involved in agricultural production takes an ownership position and participates in solving the growing problem of weed resistance to herbicides. A serious commitment of federal research funding is very important in the quest to understand the evolution and spread of herbicide resistance, to understand the biology and ecology of these driver species, and, based on this understanding, to develop new ways of managing weed resistance and getting information out to growers and others in the business of agricultural production. The call to action for public interest groups is to continue a scientifically informed and civil discussion of all the issues involved in resistance management and to work together with others in the community toward improvement of weed management programs, including being advocates for good stewardship. Professional societies represent a focal point in providing organization of community action and have the ability to make sure appropriate information is available on resistance management for decision makers. It will be important to document success stories to assist growers still looking for success in their management efforts
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