Palmer amaranth, kochia, marestail, you name it — populations of glyphosate-resistant weeds are popping up more frequently, and it looks like no-tillers are taking note of it.

In our 6th Annual No-Till Operational Benchmark Study — the results of which have been published in this month’s issue of Conservation Tillage Guide — we found some interesting trends among the 418 survey respondents in regards to the issue of glyphosate resistance:

1. The number of no-tillers seeding Roundup Ready corn hybrids has dropped from 89% in 2013 to 86% this year.
2. The use of non-GMO corn varieties is up one percentage point this year, with 20% of no-tillers reporting they’ll plant conventional hybrids.
3. The percent of no-tillers planting non-GMO soybean varieties will also increase this year, from 7% in 2013 to 11% in 2014. The percent of no-tillers planting LibertyLink soybean varieties saw the same increase. With the number of no-tillers planting Roundup Ready soybean varieties remaining at 93%, executive editor Darrell Bruggink says this indicates more no-tillers are trying something different, while still using Roundup Ready.
4. The use of glyphosate is expected to decrease this year. While 74% of survey takers said they’ll use the same amount of glyphosate in 2014 as they did in 2013, 20% plan on using less this year. Only 6% will increase their glyphosate use in 2014.
5. While it doesn’t appear anyone’s ready to give up glyphosate for good, these results hint that no-tillers are wary of resistance issues and are being a little more conscious of their use of it.

Believe it or not, your water supply may hold the key to effective glyphosate applications. To make sure your water isn’t contributing to possible resistance issues, check out the article, “Why Your Glyphosate May Not Be Working,” on page 3 of this E-Tip issue, and learn how correcting water hardness will help keep your weeds in check.