The shortage of glyphosate or Roundup is a concern for the 2022 growing season after Bayer Crop Science declared a force majeure event due to a mechanical failure at one of their main raw active ingredient suppliers. The company says they expect the impact on their annual glyphosate production to be marginal. SDSU Extension Weed Science Coordinator Paul Johnson says that may not be the case in the northern corn belt which will be the last area to receive product.
He says glyphosate supplies were already tight before this event with China also slowing their production.
Johnson recommends farmers secure product as quickly as they can this spring and step up the pre-application part of their weed control program.
He says with several other commonly used herbicides also in limited supply farmers may not even be able to switch to another chemistry or trait platform.
