Called by experts in herbicides "virtually ideal" due to its broad spectrum and low toxicity compared with other herbicides,[4] glyphosate was quickly adopted by farmers. Use increased even more when Monsanto introduced glyphosate-resistant crops, enabling farmers to kill weeds without killing their crops. In 2007 glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States agricultural sector, with 180 to 185 million pounds (82,000 to 84,000 tonnes) applied, and the second most used in home and garden market where users applied 5 to 8 million pounds (2,300 to 3,600 tonnes); additionally industry, commerce and government applied 13 to 15 million pounds (5,900 to 6,800 tonnes).[5] While glyphosate has been approved by regulatory bodies worldwide and is widely used, concerns about its effects on humans and the environment persist.[6]
Glyphosate's mode of action is to inhibit an enzyme involved in the synthesis of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. It is absorbed through foliage and translocated to growing points. Because of this mode of action, it is only effective on actively growing plants; it is not effective as a pre-emergence herbicide.
Some crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to it (i.e. Roundup Ready, also created by Monsanto Company). Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a post-emergence herbicide against both broadleaf and cereal weeds, but the development of similar resistance in some weed species is emerging as a costly problem. Soy was the first Roundup Ready crop.
Monsanto developed and patented the glyphosate molecule in the 1970s, and has marketed Roundup since 1973. It retained exclusive rights in the United States until its United States patent expired in September, 2000.
What has Round Up done for your farm in 40 years?
Ed
What do you think of the talk about glyphosate changing the soil biology? I have read where some scientists think that increased use of Glyphosate also effects the enzymes in soil bacteria.
ReplyDeleteHere in Oregon the clever folks developed Glyphosate resistant bent grass. Apparently they believed their own propaganda and didn't contain it properly. Some how it escaped, either through blowing pollen or seed blowing off trucks. Now there is wild resistant bent grass.
We grew resistant alfalfa. It was amazing stuff. You spray it with glyphosate and there is not stress on the Alfalfa. The stand lasts for years and it is clean.
There are reasons we didn't plant it the second time but that is a whole other discussion.
I think glyphosate was invented to be an industrial rail tank cleaner. When they were unloading the scrubbing mixture, they soon learned it kill every living plant near the rails. Why would I want to spray industrial strength tank cleaner on my land? Do I really want to kill everything that badly?
ReplyDeleteDr. Robert Kremer has proved glyphosate is a biocide. Dr. Huber taught me it is a strong chelator and I proved it by spraying glyphosate and watching my tissue test go down hill. I could not afford to replace all the minerals it chelates.
Then we've used it so much that many plants have become resistant to it. It is worthless on Mares Tail, Giant Ragweed and a whole lot of important weeds in Ohio.
Poa Annua had a huge bloom again this spring like your bentgrass. Glyphosate doesn't touch it.
I will say glyphosate did a good job of peeling the bark off my trees and helping the nursery industry.
Anyone who says the RR system works fine on their farm, I have to scratch my head and look them in the eye and ask, HUH?
Ed
How about another blog post about how to no-till without using Round-up?
ReplyDelete