Some zero-tillers in Manitoba are taking a sober second look at herbicide-tolerant crops and the impact they might have on the economics of their no-till systems.

There’s no question that Roundup Ready (RR) crops have made many no-till weed management decisions simpler on millions of acres of soybeans, cotton and corn.

Despite a lack of new herbicides coming on the market this year for no-till soybean weed control, attendees at the 10th annual National No-Tillage Conference still picked up a number of valuable weed-control ideas.

Following the expiration of the patents covering glyphosate, Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide may be facing numerous price threats. At least 17 glyphosate products from nine companies are on the market this spring for use by no-tillers.

With government officials from the European Union objecting to the use of no-till and forest land as no-till carbon sinks, the U.S. recently made concessions in this area for reducing carbon dioxide losses into the atmosphere. This action took place during a recent meeting of worldwide government officials seeking approval of the international Kyoto Protocol treaty to curb climate change.