Across the north-central United States, weeds that resist control efforts are worrying farmers. This development is the latest sign that weeds are becoming resistant to chemicals faster than major companies can make new weed-fighting products.
在美国中北部，对抗控制的杂草让农民感到担忧。这一发展是杂草在抗拒化学药物方面的最新迹象，其抗药性超过了大型公司推出新的除草产品的速度。
Scientists say that some sorts of weeds are developing resistance to chemicals used to destroy them.
科学家表示，一些杂草正在对用来消灭它们的化学物质产生抗药性。
Reuters news agency recently spoke with more than 20 farmers, scientists, weed specialists and company leaders. The news agency also studied eight research papers published since 2021. The studies described how weeds, including kochia, waterhemp, and giant ragweed, are affecting crops in North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
路透社最近采访了20多名农民、科学家、杂草专家和公司领导。该新闻机构还研究了自2021年以来发表的八篇研究论文。这些研究描述了诸如科奇亚、水麻、巨大的刺蒿等杂草如何影响北达科他、爱荷华、威斯康星和明尼苏达的农作物。
Over the last 20 years, chemical companies have reduced the percentage of revenue meant for research and development spending. These companies are also introducing fewer products, says AgbioInvestor, a company based in Britain that studies the agricultural chemical industry.
在过去的20年里，化学公司已经减少了用于研发支出的收入百分比。总部位于英国的农业化学产业研究公司AgbioInvestor表示，这些公司还推出的产品更少。
Farmers say their battle with weeds threatens grain and oilseed harvests at a time when growers face inflation and extreme weather.
农民表示，他们与杂草的斗争威胁到了粮食和油籽的收成，而此时种植者正面临通货膨胀和极端天气的压力。
"We're in for big problems over the next 10 years for sure," said Ian Heap of the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds. It is a group of international scientists who work with governments and industry. He added, "We are in for a real shake-up."
“我们在接下来的10年里肯定会遇到很大的问题，”国际抗除草剂杂草调查组织的伊恩·希普说。这是一个与政府和工业合作的国际科学家团体。他补充说：“我们将迎来一次真正的动荡。”
The research group has a database of information on the reduced effectiveness of glyphosate, one of the most common weed-killing chemicals, against 361 weed species, including 180 in the U.S.
该研究组织在数据库中记录了对361种杂草（包括美国境内的180种）使用最常见的除草剂草甘膦效果降低的信息。
These weeds affect corn, soy, sugar beets and other crops.
这些杂草影响着玉米、大豆、甜菜和其他作物。
Around the world, 21 weeds globally showed resistance to dicamba, the most recent major U.S. chemical, which launched in 2017.
在全球范围内，有21种杂草对2017年推出的最新一种美国主要化学品百草枯表现出抗药性。
Environmental groups argue that farmers should embrace natural weed-control methods instead of chemicals.
环保团体认为，农民应该采用自然的除草方法，而不是化学方法。
One Kochia plant can spread as many as 30,000 seeds. It can
result in yields reduced by up to 70 percent if nothing is done to stop it. That information comes from Take Action, a farmer resource program of the United Soybean Board.
一株科奇亚植物可以散布多达30,000颗种子。如果不采取措施阻止，收成可能减少高达70%。这一信息来自于美国大豆协会的农民资源计划Take Action。
Other issues, including the development of stronger seeds, have pushed overall crop yields higher around the world. But scientists expect weed problems to worsen. Some weeds are even showing resistance the first time they are treated with chemicals.
其他问题，包括培育更强劲的种子，使全球范围内的总体作物产量提高。但科学家们预计杂草问题将加剧。一些杂草甚至在第一次用化学药物治疗时就表现出抗药性。
In Douglas, North Dakota, farmer Bob Finken used dicamba and glyphosate to kill weeds late in the growing season. Neither product completely killed kochia.
在北达科他州的道格拉斯，农民鲍勃·芬肯在生长季末使用了百草枯和草甘膦来除草。但是两种产品都没有完全杀死科奇亚。
"That was really scary," said Finken, age 64. "Each year seems to get a little worse."
芬肯，64岁，表示：“那真的很可怕。每年似乎都会变得稍微糟糕一点。”
Finken had to clear the weeds with harvesting equipment, which risks damaging the machinery.
芬肯不得不用收获设备清理杂草，这有损设备。
Other farmers are hiring workers to pull weeds by hand, said Sarah Lovas of GK Technology, an agriculture company.
农民雇佣工人亲自拔草，农业公司GK Technology的莎拉·洛瓦斯表示。
North Dakota was the largest spring wheat producing state in 2023 and ninth-biggest soybean grower.
2023年，北达科他州是最大的春小麦生产州，也是第九大大豆种植州。
Five of North Dakota's 53 counties have confirmed populations of dicamba-resistant kochia. That is only one year after it was first reported in the state, said Joe Ikley of North Dakota State University.
北达科他州的53个县中有5个县确认了对百草枯具有抗药性的科奇亚的种群。北达科他州立大学的乔·艾克利表示，这仅仅是在该州首次报告这一现象一年后。
"It's just a matter of time before it hits your farm," said 65-year-old Monte Peterson who grows soybeans near Valley City, North Dakota.
在北达科他州瓦利城附近种植大豆的65岁的蒙特·彼得森说：“这只是时间问题，它迟早会波及到你的农场。”
Chemical producers Bayer, Corteva and FMC say longer development and government approval processes have limited new products to combat weed resistance. Industry leaders also say officials have become stricter about possible environmental and health effects.
拜尔（Bayer）、科尔特瓦（Corteva）和FMC等化学制品生产商表示，较长的研发和政府批准流程限制了新产品用于对抗杂草抗性。行业领导人还表示，官员们对可能的环境和健康影响变得更加严格。
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said standards for approving new herbicides have not changed greatly since 1996. However, the EPA said recent efforts to study the effects of new active ingredients on threatened plants and wildlife have delayed some decisions.
美国环保署表示，自1996年以来，批准新除草剂的标准并没有发生很大变化。然而，美国环保署表示，对研究新活性成分对濒危植物和野生动物的影响的最新努力已经推迟了一些决定。
The EPA did not estimate the increased processing time. The agency said it speeds up studies of lower-risk products.
环保局没有估计处理时间的增加。该机构表示，将加快对低风险产品的研究。
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Words in This Story
weed – n. a plant that grows very quickly and covers or kills more desirable plants
shake-up – n. is an important change or series of changes.
yield – n. the amount of something that is produced by a farm
standard – n. an acceptable level of quality or achievement; something that is used to judge the quality of something else
