Assignment task:
Explore the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant WeedsLinks to an external site. and answer the questions below. On the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds Homepage, examine the trends of herbicide-resistant weeds. In the left column chose "Summaries" by "US State Map" and by "Country". By moving your cursor over the states and scrolling down the list of countries, compare the number of herbicide-resistant weed species across a range of geographical regions. You can also view the data in as a "Global Map."
Assume you manage a 200-acre corn and soybean farm in Southern Pennsylvania. You keep up with the latest technological advances in farming and use seeds from either Dow or Monsanto depending on what your seed salesperson recommends. You are proud of your farm and strive to keep your crops free from both weeds and harmful insects that could damage your crop and cut into your profits. Your immediate neighbors on the East side have a large organic vegetable production farm. Based on what you have observed on the above website, the information mentioned above, and from what you have learned through the readings in this module, answer the following questions:
1. What are some potential problems you might encounter if you adopt seeds with the new herbicide traits listed above? How do these problems differ between now and in the future?
2. What other weed-control strategies could you use to control glyphosate-resistant weeds?
3. How might your pest management system affect your neighbors?
4. Are there strategies you can use to mitigate potential harm to your neighbors' fields?
5. If you were farming in Thailand or Egypt instead of in Pennsylvania, what might explain differences in the number of herbicide-resistant species you encounter there compared to your farm in the United States?
6. If you farmed in Canada, Australia, or Western Europe what might explain the herbicide-resistant species you encounter there?