In Canada's small-grain belt, wild oats is a huge problem weed. In Western Europe, wild oats as an economic threat in small grains barely pokes above the horizon. But farmers in Europe, and the UK especially, have another weed to battle, and the challenges they face are strikingly similar to those faced by Canadian grain growers.
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| British weed scientists Stephen Moss outlined the emerging problem of herbicide-resistant black-grass in Europe. |
The weed is called black-grass. At Bayer's Pan American Weed Resistance Conference in Miami this week, British weed scientist Stephen Moss outlined the headaches this fall-germinating annual grass causes for grain growers.
Uncontrolled, black-grass cuts yields by 20 to 25 per cent. It sends up repeat flushes through the long growing season for winter grains in Europe.
Group 2 herbicides still provide effective control in most situations, but resistant populations are expanding, Moss said. Resistance has severely compromised the value of Group 1 products, however, and dual Group 1/Group 2 resistance is beginning to appear.
Black-grass has multiple resistance mechanisms, which for now leaves some control flexibility with Group 2 products. Even so, growers are increasingly moving to herbicide mixtures and pre-plant applications of glyphosate.
Canola is grown in much of Western Europe, and the introduction of herbicide-tolerant lines would help control black-grass and other grassy weeds. But due to legal constraints, production of HT canola is not yet an option.
Weed scientists see a growing need for longer rotations and other integrated weed management techniques, but so far they don't detect much enthusiasm from farmers who, they feel, could soon lose two herbicide groups that have contributed enormously to grain (and canola) profitability.