Too often, science and facts fall victim to fear mongering and emotion. Recently, we have seen an uptick in false narratives around wheat growers’ use of the herbicide glyphosate. The reality is that glyphosate, the active ingredient in many herbicide brands, including Roundup herbicide, is one of the most effective tools to combat weeds prior to planting or after wheat is harvested.
[Editor’s note: Ben Scholz is a Texas farmer and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers.]
While there are many claims about glyphosate, the tillage replacement tool has more than a 40-year history of safe use. Further, despite comments by ill-informed interest groups, farmers do not “douse” their crops with glyphosate just prior to harvest or in any application. Like all pesticides, glyphosate works best when used precisely and correctly, and it’s against the law to use it in a manner that is contrary to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved label. Farmers….don’t want to use any more than they need, because the products are costly and take time to apply.
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[Glyphosate] has become a very effective and useful tool for protecting soil erosion, fertility and water quality. It has led to an increase of growers incorporating no-till farming practices into their operations.…
The mechanical tillage that farmers would be required to implement without glyphosate would result in higher costs, environmental and soil degradation, and likely a less safe herbicide applied in the first place.
Read full, original article: Commentary: Farmers speak out on the facts about glyphosate
