Monsato's Weed Problem

"Scientists at universities around the country have noted that weed resistance has been on the increase for the herbicide glyphosate, the chief ingredient in Roundup Ready products developed by St. Louis-based Monsanto Co.

Glyphosate surged to popularity in the mid-1990s after the development of genetically-engineered soybeans and other crops that are immune to the herbicide. That meant farmers could use Roundup weed killer and Roundup seed bean without fear of other weeds turning up.

Monsanto harvested a winner with that one. The firm said 87 percent of U.S. soybean fields and 60 percent of international soybean fields were planted with Roundup Ready soybeans in 2005.

But a growing number of weeds are now reportedly showing resistance. "It was just a matter of time," said Aaron Hager, a weed scientist with University of Illinois Extension. "We now have instances of weed species that aren't controlled by glyphosate," he said."

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