Abstract

Economic issues in management of herbicide resistant weeds

C. Schmidt and David J. Pannell

Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907, Australia


Herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is having a dramatic impact on the management and profitability of continuous cropping systems of southern Australia. In many cases ryegrass populations have exhibited cross resistance, where development of resistance through repeated use of one herbicide also bestows resistance to other groups of herbicides not previously used. Hence use of the major groups of selective herbicides as the predominant means of weed control is often ruled out. In this paper we discuss the development of herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum, its costs and implications for farm management. Where high levels of resistance have developed, weed control strategies that included a range of control methods (such as increased crop densities, windrowing and crop topping) give the optimal return.

Citation: Schmidt, C. and Pannell, D.J. (1996). Economic issues in management of herbicide resistant weeds. Review of Marketing and Agricultural Economics 64: 301-308.


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Last revised: August 13, 2008.