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Herbicide resistance occurs when, as the same herbicide or herbicide groups are applied each year, weeds and undesirable plants begin to adapt and develop a resistance to the herbicide. This development of resistance is an example of a fast paced evolutionary change through natural selection. As the same herbicide is applied year after year, resistant plants are naturally selected and survive to the next year. The resistant weeds will spread (as weeds do) and eventually herbicide resistant plants dominate the whole population. A weed population is defined as resistant when a herbicide loses effectiveness. While there is no explicit standard, a 20% survival rate after application is often used. Herbicide resistance is considered permanent in weeds and their subsequent offspring.

High value, labour-intensive crops require special conditions and careful management for a successful season. Often the success of high-value crops comes down to small decisions about production and treatments. Proper documentation and farm record keeping are necessary to know what worked, and what didn’t. The margins are slim and every small increase in yield goes a long way.

In a rapidly evolving situation, it’s safe to say the world is watching the news. Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world are increasing border security and restricting access to non-citizens.