Abstract This paper presents agronomic and economic challenges of herbicide reduction strategies in German arable farming, based on a workshop-discussion on the ‘Reduction of herbicide use—economic and structural challenges and effects on agricultural farming in Germany’, held at the German Conference on Weed Biology and Weed Control in February 2024. The strategies discussed and compiled comprise (1) indirect and preventive measures like diverse cropping systems, cultivar choice, intercropping or mulching and (2) direct non-chemical measures, such as mechanical weed control or biological control. Direct non-chemical measures with optimization potential for arable farming (3), like thermal weed control or electro weeding and (4) measures for optimising herbicide application such as site-specific herbicide application or computer-aided forecast models were also discussed. The discussed strategies are associated with advantages like positive co-benefits in terms of soil health and biodiversity, a reduced selection of herbicide-resistant biotypes or in specific cases with positive yield effects. Disadvantages are in many cases linked to economic parameters such as higher workload, higher costs or/and to a reduction of yield potential. Disadvantages and economic challenges contribute to a reluctance of farmers towards the adoption of herbicide reduction strategies, which in Germy is still limited. To overcome these shortcomings and support the reduction of pesticides alongside environmental benefits, targeted funding and compensation, combined with an expanded independent advisory service, should be considered and reinforced. Furthermore, increased research and knowledge on economic challenges is expected to help farmers better judge the benefits, risks and obstacles of reducing herbicide use.
Karpinski et al. (Tue,) studied this question.