loading作物产量。他们使用更多的除草剂除草也引发了对环境的担忧。食品价格接近纪录高位，人口不断增加使全球粮食供应紧张，国际上承受不起粮食产量减少，也无法承受新的环境问题。
The problem's gradual emergence has masked its growing menace. Now, however, it is becoming too big to ignore. The super weeds boost costs and cut crop yields for U.S. farmers starting their fall harvest this month. And their use of more herbicides to fight the weeds is sparking environmental concerns. With food prices near record highs and a growing population straining global grain supplies, the world cannot afford diminished crop production, nor added environmental problems.
戴夫·莫腾森是宾夕法尼亚州立大学的杂草和应用植物生态学教授，他一直在帮助游说国会议员注意杂草抗性的影响，他说：“我相信这是一个大问题。大多数民众不知道，因为行业人士要求导演如何编剧。”
\weed and applied plant ecology at Penn State University, who has been
helping lobby members of Congress about the implications of weed resistance. \how this should be spun,\
上个月，美国环境保护局，农业部和美国杂草科学学会的代表们参观了中西部作物带，亲眼看到了不断增强的杂草抗性的影响。
Last month, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture and the Weed Science Society of America toured the Midwest crop belt to see for themselves the impact of rising weed resistance.
美国杂草科学学会科学政策主任李·范·魏晨说：“情况只会变得更坏。” \at the Weed Science Society of America.
孟山都首当其冲
MONSANTO ON THE FRONT LINE
问题的核心是世界上最大的种子公司和农达(除草剂)制造商孟山都公司。孟山都赚取了数十亿美元，并通过销售农达和抗农达的“草甘磷”转基因作物革新了粗放式农业耕种方式。
At the heart of the matter is Monsanto Co, the world's biggest seed company and the maker of Roundup. Monsanto has made billions of dollars and
revolutionized row crop agriculture through sales of Roundup and \Ready\
草甘磷系统已帮助农民种植更多的玉米、大豆、棉花和其他农作物，同时减少有害的土壤耕作方式，轻而易举杀死杂草，成本低廉。
The Roundup Ready system has helped farmers grow more corn, soybeans, cotton and other crops while reducing detrimental soil tillage practices, killing weeds easily and cheaply.
但是，该系统还鼓励农民改变时间悠久的作物轮作法以及此前一直可以控制杂草的混合除草剂。
But the system has also encouraged farmers to alter time-honored crop
rotation practices and the mix of herbicides that previously had kept weeds in check.
现在，农民们发现，猖獗的杂草抗性让他们受到了挫折 – 年复一年种植玉米越来越艰难，即使偶尔轮作大豆也不起作用。农民还必须改变农药混合种类和使用量，使种田更加昂贵。
And now, farmers are finding that rampant weed resistance is setting them back - making it harder to keep growing corn year in and year out, even when rotating it occasionally with soybeans. Farmers also have to change their mix and volume of chemicals, making farming more costly.
对于孟山都，这威胁到了公司的市场竞争力，因为对手们嗅到了机会，都在竞相推出农达和草甘磷种子的替代品。
For Monsanto, it spells a threat to the company's market strength as rivals smell an opportunity and are racing to introduce alternatives for Roundup and Roundup Ready seeds.
陶氏益农公司的全球战略领导者汤姆·威尔特劳特说：“你似乎置身过草甘磷时代”，该公司正在推介一种叫做Enlist的除草剂和种子系统以取代农达。 \strategy leader at Dow AgroSciences, which is introducing an herbicide and seed system called Enlist as an alternative to Roundup.
他说：“这可以让我们爽快地摆脱孟山都的影响。”
\