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By Paul Lasley, Iowa State University Sociologist

In my last editorial I argued that group action is required if we are to effectively manage field crop pests by concluding, “Some things are too big for anyone to accomplish alone and too important not to try to do together.”  

There is little doubt that productivity gains in corn and soybeans can be attributed, in part, to better pest management, which often relies upon herbicides and insecticides. However these pesticides are becoming less effective.

Is there an effective way for local communities to band together to battle weeds, insects, and other pests that become resistant to treatment? To explore that question, the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) and Entomological Society of America(ESA) organized a recent tour of a state-sponsored resistance management demonstration project in Harrison County, Iowa.

More than 70 stakeholders from across the nation participated, from researchers and policymakers to ag-industry representatives.

The Harrison County Pest Resistance Management Project team held a field day at the Larry Buss farm southwest of Logan. 10 herbicide programs were available for comparison to evaluate success and implications for resistance management of weeds including waterhemp, marestail, giant ragweed and Palmer amaranth.