Fruit crops weed problems

All crop production, except protected cropping (for example, glasshouse, plastic covered), is vulnerable to the weather. Measures to combat frost and drought are common to most kinds of crop production wind protection (by shelter belts and so on) is practised for only a few crops (e.g. top fruit). In general, apart from choice of location, little can be done about solar radiation, rainfall or temperature. Problems with weeds, pests and diseases are also common to all crops but the remedies available to organic producers are much more limited than for conventional farmers. 

Brazil accounts for 55% of pesticide sales in Central and South America. Pesticide sales in Brazil were US 1.4 billion in 1994 and an increase in sales was seen for all leading crops between 1993 and 1994 (up 57% for cotton, 44.8% for coffee, 36.3% for maize, 30.2% for soybean, 17.7% for citrus fruits and 11.5% for sugai cane). Herbicide sales dominate the market (50% in 1994) and it was predicted that usage would continue to expand as more farms convert to minimum tillage practices (due to severe problems with soil erosion and deterioration in soil structure) that rely on increased herbicide applications to control weeds,... 

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