In case you missed this front-page Des Moines Sunday Register story (6/22/14) here it is! Palmer amaranth and several other weed species have developed resistance to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. The chemical/GMO system of agriculture is bad for everyone (except the big corporations) and it is failing. --Tom Mathews -----Original Message----- From: Laurel Hopwood <[log in to unmask]> To: CONS-SPST-BIOTECH-FORUM <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Mon, Jun 23, 2014 11:18 am Subject: 'Superweeds' choke farms http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2014/06/22/superweeds-choke-farms/11231231/ 'Superweeds' choke farms (edited) Growers have lived through nearly a decade oftorment, fighting a destructive, fast-growing weed - Palmer amaranth -that can carry a million seeds and is unfazed by severalherbicides. It has the power to choke the economy andenvironment - and increase prices for consumers. Even a moderateinfestation of Palmer amaranth can rob farmers of about two-thirds oftheir corn and soybean yields, experts say. Many U.S. products are tied to (geneticallymanipulated) corn and soybeans - from sodas to cereals and fuels -and prices will rise, said Mike Owen, professor of agronomy at IowaState University. The growth of herbicide resistance means farmers will use more - andpotentially more toxic - chemicals to battle the aggressiveweed. Agribusinesses are introducing a new lineup ofherbicides and seeds to the battle. Environmental groups worry thatthose proposed solutions will only worsen the problem. "This is arecipe for disaster," said Dr. Doug Gurian-Sherman, seniorscientist with the Center for Food Safety. Robert Hartzler, an ISU professor of agronomy,say herbicide resistance in weeds was inevitable. "You've heardof this guy called Chuck Darwin and evolution?" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-BIOTECH-FORUM list, send any message to:[log in to unmask] out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.aspTo view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/