I recently blogged about an National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast regarding the development and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds. Well, weeds are back in the news; below is the link for a recently published piece in the The Scientist (Revenge of the Weeds. May 20, 2012).
http://the-scientist.com/2012/05/20/revenge-of-the-weeds/#disqus_thread
Despite our best efforts to both understand and manage them, herbicide-resistant weeds are gaining ground both in the fields and in the minds of the general public. If it isn't so already, more and more of our extension and outreach will be focused on this topic. I think that it is important to read popular press articles about the topic, as well as the reader responses that follow these articles. This is where the public is going to get the majority of its information about agriculture...and where we get the opportunity, in turn, to see what they are thinking and feeling. I've been alternately appalled by some respondents complete lack of understanding about basic science...and I've been impressed and inspired by those who have had very thoughtful and well-articulated ideas and concerns about the long-term sustainability of our food production systems.
Attached is a smattering of other press pieces. In some ways, this is how our work is being presented to society at large...and these are responses back to us. I know that I am trying to learn as much as I can from the situation; I am hoping that this will help to make me a better scientist, extension agent, and agricultural ambassador at large.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/energy-environment/04weed.html?pagewanted=all
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/nc-farmers-battle-herbicideresistant-weeds
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/From_the_Ground_Up_-_Herbicde_Resistant_Weeds__157797495.html
http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/national-summit-focuses-herbicide-resistant-weeds-17/59757
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/us-agriculture-weeds-idUSBRE8491JZ20120510