Widely used and controversial herbicide glyphosate remains an essential tool for farmers to manage weeds, and a study authored by representatives from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Soybean Association is putting into perspective just how vital the chemical is for yield and operating margins.
The study calculated a hypothetical situation where glyphosate was banned in Illinois, using 2023 USDA data on planted acres and 2024 USDA-NASS data for yield and prices.
Then the researchers calculated the yield impact of a ban and the costs associated with maintaining 2023 yields by substituting one of several weed management systems, including glufosinate-, dicamba-, and 2,4-D choline systems; ACCase inhibitors like clethodim; and mechanical controls.
Overall, Illinois corn and soybean growers would lose $300-609 million per year, or 1.8-3.6% in revenues, by switching to one of the substitute solutions, the report found.
Corn growers would pay $26.4-45.3 more a hectare for weed management, costing the state $119.5-205.3 million. Similarly, soybean farmers would pay $28.4-58.1 more per hectare for a total cost of $119.0–243.2 million
Corn farmers switching to dicamba or a 2,4-D system would pay $7.4-12.4 more per hectare and $33.6-56 million total in Illinois, according to the report. Corn growers switching to a Group 1 herbicide ACCase inhibitors like Corteva’s Enlist – a weed-management system that combines GMO-plants and two propriety herbicides – would increase weed management costs by $29.70-47 per hectare for a total cost $134.4–212.8 million.
Soybean farmers would pay $14.8-39.5 more per hectare for a clethodim-based system and $42-76.6 for a glufosinate system, costing Illinois $62.1–165.6 million and $176.0–320.9 million, respectively.
The growing movement to regulate, restrict glyphosate
The research on the cost of switching weed management practices comes amid a flurry of news surrounding the widely used, broad-spectrum herbicide.
In late June, Bayer secured a major Supreme Court win in a case regarding Roundup that reduced litigation risk and reinforced federal regulatory authority. A week later, Bayer consolidated its glyphosate operations under Ruveon LLC, but stated its commitment to the market, amid mounting pressure from cheaper Chinese alternatives and biological innovation.
On regulation news, the House-passed Farm Bill removed language that would have shielded glyphosate producers from state liability by creating uniform pesticide labelling standards. Meanwhile, UK campaigners intensified calls to restrict glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant as the government is set to review approval of the herbicide this year.
Amid pushes to restrict the herbicide, the agricultural industry continues to invest in glyphosate alternatives – whether it’s major ag supplier Bayer to UK start-up BindBridge – amid concerns of herbicide resistance building up. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reauthorized the use of dicamba, allowing Bayer to launch its herbicide for the 2026 growing year.
