A safer alternative to Roundup

turnkey4099 · May 6, 2015

Creamer said:
I am not sure why some people are so scared of Roundup. It is one of the safest chemicals made. You don't really want to pour it in your eyes or drink it but other than that it is not dangerous to work with.

Here is a "fact sheet" put out by Cornell University on it. Glyphosate This report also cites the feed rate to rats for glycophosphate to be carcinogenic - I would think if you fed any animal almost purely one chemical there would be adverse reactions.

The biggest thing for me is that it breaks down very quickly. This paper says a half life of 1-174 days in soil but I know some products state that in sunlight it is 90% broken down in 3 days. The other factor is that it has a very low leach out rate in soil. To me these are a good things. I know of nothing better.

Keep in mind that the "license" is up for renewal and therefore there is a lot of hype by certain anti-chemical types. I know on my brother's farm where I grew up since they went no-till and started using Roundup versus a lot of other herbicides such as 2,4-D there is a lot more evidence of natural soil organism activity. It is visible to the naked eye if you know what you are looking for. That also makes me a believer.

The eco-freaks have been after gly since its beginning. No amount of real science articles will ever convince them that it is the most benign (as chemicals go) substance being used.

Harry K

sleepybozo · May 6, 2015

Point out to her that her pastures are in bad shape because *horses* are bad for the ecosystem if improperly used.

Jstpssng · May 6, 2015

At one time it was suggested for use in Organic Gardening magazine... The problem is that it is NOT the one size fits all which Monsanto makes it out to be. I for one am not a fan of GMO crops such as Roundup ready corn or soy...

Jstpssng · May 6, 2015

It is the best tool for the OP's intended use. Turning the soil to bury the weeds helps, but isn't a cure-all.

breadtrk · May 6, 2015

Buy and use Glyphosate. Don't call it roundup. It is sold under many different names. She won't know the difference. Explain how this one breaks down so soon. Sell it to her and the latest in farming.

Or walk away.

quicksandfarmer · May 6, 2015

smstonypoint said:
Is the lady against all herbicides or just glyphosate? If the weeds are mainly broadleaf, you could try Grazon or other broadleaf herbicides.

Stev

Grazon is far more dangerous than Roundup. It persists a lot longer. It is still effective after passing through the digestive tract of a ruminant. Roundup is great because it works and then it goes away.

HCJtractor · May 6, 2015

It's funny sometimes how reactionary people are. Why not just tell her to enjoy her weeds? People want perfect weed free lawns or pastures, but can't understand that's not natural. But heaven forbid using chemicals! Reminds me of my ex wife, who was a "green" tree hugger. A friend of hers wanted some logs to use to establish a little mushroom farm. I told her no problem. I would gladly go to my farm and select the perfect tree and cut it down for ideal logs to "seed". She said absolutely not! She didn't want any trees cut down! Guess she thinks logs just are lying around the woods waiting to be picked up!

Tilling that much acreage and working that soil would take lots of time and money. And it just stirs up the seeds already there. I wonder if she is filling to pay for all that tractor time? I doubt it. Some people just have no clue to reality!

EddieWalker · May 6, 2015

breadtrk said:
Buy and use Glyphosate. Don't call it roundup. It is sold under many different names. She won't know the difference. Explain how this one breaks down so soon. Sell it to her and the latest in farming.

Or walk away.

This is the same thought I had while reading the replies. I get the 2 1/2 gallon containers of it and it's called Glyphosate on the label for $50 at Atwoods. Same thing as roundup, just cheaper.

If you can't do the job you want, the way you want, don't do the job.

Eddie

dave1949 · May 6, 2015

Jstpssng said:
At one time it was suggested for use in Organic Gardening magazine... The problem is that it is NOT the one size fits all which Monsanto makes it out to be. I for one am not a fan of GMO crops such as Roundup ready corn or soy...

Me neither.

Roundup Ready seeds results in Glyphosate appearing in breast milk and being excreted from the body through urine. That is a different proposition than how Roundup persists in soils. There seems to be some disagreement whether Roundup bioaccumulates in body fluids or not, but even Monsanto agrees it passes through our bodies.

GLYPHOSATE TEST RESULTS - Moms Across America
3 Studies Proving Glyphosate Found in Urine, Blood, and Breast Milk | Natural Society

My other concern, beyond foreign chemicals in the body, is that the no-till methods of farming combined with GM seeds which rely on Roundup results in a very sterile monoculture that is spreading across many millions of acres. This has an adverse impact on biodiversity. There needs to be a few weeds here and there, and somehow we lived with that situation for thousands of years before Roundup.