It seems to me that glyphosate (Roundup chemical) is a safer herbicide than many others that we have had around since the 1950's. There are 2 ways for a chemical to be toxic - it hurts you quickly; or it stays in the environment a long, long time, hurting you just a tiny bit every day. We can list every chemical, from alcohol to gasoline to table salt to glyphosate under those 2 situations. As well as the other weed killers.
Ranked against the other weed killers, glyphosate binds up with clay particles _real_ quick in the enviroment, and become a non-issue in a very short time. It has no lasting ability.
Ranked against the other weed killers, in so far as we can scientificly test such things these days, glyphosate has very little activity against mamals or birds. It also does not have much activity on fish & frogs, but it's possible some of the soaps used with it (as well as used by other weed killers) is not so good for our water breathing friends. It's not the actual glyphosate tho in any event.
So........
If ban glyphosate, then what?
We go back to the old weed herbicides? They don't work so good all the time. They tend to be a bit harsher than glyphosate. Id that really what we want?
So, are we to ban all weed herbicides? Then what? We go back to cultivating, which increases use of fel, and increases erosion, and does not control weeds as well. Are we supposed to how all our grain crops, evven at $8 an hour that will greatly increase grain prices! Or we lower our grain yields do to the weed pressure.
Is lower grain yields, more fuel use, higher grain prices, a little less grain produced, really going be a safe thing for all of us? Can we deal with the increased erosion?
I think the world will get a little crazier, and a little less stable, should that happen.
Herbicides are not a wonderful, good, yummy thing. But looking at the big picture, I'm thinking I would like the alternative even less.
And, for those that will go down this path, yes, yes, Monsanto is the most evil, worst, aweful company ever ever ever in th whole wide world. I got that. Over 1/2 the glyphosate sold in the USA comes from other comanies as it's off patent for many years; and you can buy RR seed from all the major and most minor seed comanies, some not affiliated with that horrible, evil company. o it's ok you can farm with GMO seed and glyphosate weed spray and not be supporting Monsanto.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.