A small group of North Dakota farmers has sown some seeds of discontent about Canadian grain containing herbicide-resistant weeds.
The four farmers complained late last year to state officials, alleging that the problem of herbicide resistance is more prevalent in Canada than it is in North Dakota. They wanted rules imposed to ensure Canadian grain entering the state is free of weed seeds.
“We’ve got enough weeds,” said Jerome Anderson, one of the farmers who lodged a complaint with state officials, including agriculture commissioner Roger Johnson. “If you have chemically resistant weeds, they should be left at home.”
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The group based its complaint on grain samples taken from a Canadian truck during a Dec. 6 blockade of border crossings carried out by U.S. farmers. Anderson said tests done at North Dakota State University found a dozen different varieties of weed seed in the samples. Wild oats and wild mustard were among them.
The farmers argue that Canadian growers overuse their chemicals, contributing to an increase in herbicide-resistant weeds. They say a number of those chemicals are not labeled for use in the U.S., which could pose a problem if the resistant weeds flow south across the border.
The group wanted a law passed by the state that would require Canadian grain to be certified weed-free before entering North Dakota. Such a bill was drafted, but during a recent vote in the North Dakota State House, it was defeated by a vast majority.
“It’s really a dead issue at this point,” said John Leppert, a noxious weed specialist with the North Dakota department of agriculture. “We’re not pursuing it.”
Leppert said the scientific community did not support the view that herbicide-resistant weeds are more prevalent in Canada. There were also concerns raised about whether the proposed legislation might clash with the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Anderson said his group will take its concerns to the U.S. secretary of agriculture to get action on the issue.
A weed scientist at the state university has found no proof to suggest herbicide-resistant weeds are more common in Canada. Brian Jenks said Canada does a better job of surveying and documenting resistant weeds, which may explain why some people think the problem is more prevalent here.
The issue is a serious one, however, and Jenks advises farmers to rotate the herbicides applied to their crops. That includes alternating between herbicides with different modes of action.
“You can do that better if you’re also rotating your crops,” he said.
Another concern is the threat of cross-resistant weeds, which can withstand herbicides with two different modes of action. There is some evidence of those weeds in both Canada and the United States.
“It’s not widespread, but it’s out there,” Jenks said.
