It is being urged to act now to protect the future of glyphosate. This is because it was issued following the country’s first confirmed resistance incident in ryegrass, Italy.
With pre-harvest glyphosate applications approaching, the Agricultural Industry Federation (AIC) is asking growers to strictly follow the Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) guidelines.
In January 2025, WRAG confirmed that a single field population of Italian ryegrass developed resistance to glyphosate at the largest permitted dose.
This is the first fully documented instance of glyphosate resistance in the UK, causing great concern across the agricultural sector.
Three more suspect cases were identified at that time. Subsequent testing revealed that two of these populations exhibited a significantly reduced control from the appropriate glyphosate velocity, while the third had reduced sensitivity.
Throughout the spring, additional samples of Italian ryegrass that survived glyphosate use were submitted to the ADA for resistance testing.
Preliminary results indicate that some of these populations may also be problematic, but full confirmation is still pending.
The AIC warns that the risk of glyphosate resistance is exacerbated by a significant reduction in mechanical weeding. This includes moving from traditional cultivation practices that physically disrupt weed growth.
Furthermore, the increased adoption of low-independence or no-till system, coupled with a long period of uncovered fields during fallow or stubble phases without weed control, contributes further to the problem.
These factors contribute to increased pressure on glyphosate effectiveness, and the body is urging growers to follow the WRAG stewardship guidelines.
• Prevent Survivors – Avoid repeated applications to surviving weeds.
• Maximize efficacy – If weeds grow aggressively and conditions are preferred, the recommended dose is fully applied. Avoid application during STEM expansion or on plants highlighted by drought, flooding, or cold temperatures.
•Use alternatives – if feasible, integrate non-chemical methods such as cultivation and alternate with the modes of action of other herbicides.
• Monitor success – remove survivors and report suspected resistance to agriculture or product manufacturers.
