Round UP Fears

[MESSMAKER]

I am hearing more and more about the dangers of the chemical agent in Round-Up. I use it quite a bit both at work and home. Any thoughts?

 

[riptides]

I am hearing more and more about the dangers of the chemical agent in Round-Up. I use it quite a bit both at work and home. Any thoughts?

Hasn't changed my application of it. I use it to a minimum of twice a year on about a mile of fence line. Jury is still out for me.

 

[arrow]

I am hearing more and more about the dangers of the chemical agent in Round-Up. I use it quite a bit both at work and home. Any thoughts?

Monsanto would never do anything to hurt you.

 

[sd455dan]

read it is the other ingredients that are being looked into more recently

New Evidence About the Dangers of Monsanto’s Roundup

Found this disturbing :
“It took around one year and three people (a specialist in pesticide toxicology, a specialist of chemical mixtures, and a specialist in mass spectrometry) to unravel the secrets of Monsanto’s Roundup formulations,” Mesnage explained in an email. The hard work paid off. In 2013, his team was able not only to deduce the chemical structure of additives in six of the nine formulations but also to show that each of these supposedly inert ingredients was more toxic than glyphosate alone.

and ... in February, the team published its findings, which showed that each of the five co-formulants affected the function of both the mitochondria in human placental cells and aromatase, an enzyme that affects ****** development. Not only did these chemicals, which aren’t named on herbicide labels, affect biological functions, they did so at levels far below the concentrations used in commercially available products. In fact, POEA — officially an “inert” ingredient — was between 1,200 and 2,000 times more toxic to cells than glyphosate, officially the “active” ingredient.

I have some roundup still , but haven't used any in a while- Have More weeds growing again to.

 

[jeff9366]

How many follow prudent application suggestions?

Long sleeve shirt. Long pants. Gloves. Hat. Safety glasses.

Wash all clothes at days end. Do not wear a second day.

No smoking while spraying. No eating while spraying.

Bathe ASAP after spraying.

 

[ultrarunner]

I had never used Weed Killers except for spot treatment on Poison Oak.

Back in 1991 there was the Oakland Fire Storm which consumed 3000+ homes and within a year the city said acreage 4000 square foot lot would all be treated the same...

We have acreage and very rugged at that plus poison oak flourishes here... the only way to meet the city requirements was to be aggressive with weed killer...

I started buying multiple 2.5 gallon jugs of Round Up Quick Pro and it worked well... so well that it became the standard to pass inspection even though the city practically bans herbicide use...

This year I didn't use it and have problems... spent about 20 days of Saturday and Sunday with my commercial string trimmer... did 3 cutting and it needs to be cut again...

Took several tumbles down the hillside and twisted my ankle... just not going to be able to do manual cutting... goats are an option at 3k per acre... it is what the city uses but they have lots of money.

We have been 5 generations here and never a problem... yet one problem anywhere and all the rules change for everybody.

 

[ultrarunner]

How many follow prudent application suggestions?

Long sleeve shirt. Long pants. Gloves. Hat.

Wash all clothes at days end. Do not wear a second day.

No smoking while spraying. No eating while spraying.

Bathe ASAP after spraying.

All of the above always and I don't smoke... also double wash clothes.

 

[tcreeley]

Toxic- I never use it. As if Monsanto and the others don't care more about money than anything else. They'd sell you cyanide if they thought there was something in it for them.

 

[ultrarunner]

As mentioned... I have been forced to adapt to comply with the law and there is nothing I can do short of selling the family homestead to transfer responsibility compliance...

Spaying is like magic... the Oaks thrive and the brush and grass disappear which is all the fire inspectors care about...

Spending 25k a year on goats is never going to happen... plus, I can't keep goats... they are only allowed temporarily for fire suppression...

I do maintain fire trails and bought a dozer to put them in which is a topic for another thread...

Without chemical herbicide it would be an impossible task... especially with the record rainfall this year...

Signed... looking for an alternative and still be legal...

By the way, the city owns much of the similar acreage and even some that had been in my family... the city is exempt from penalties from non-compliance.

 

[rekees4300]

I am hearing more and more about the dangers of the chemical agent in Round-Up. I use it quite a bit both at work and home. Any thoughts?

My thoughts are that it's a carcinogen. Use at your own risk.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I use diluted glyphosate with no extra ingredients, and then only when I need it. I will spot kill poison ivy/oak/sumac, and clear small areas that are going to become lawn or garden. I don't do it when bee activity is at peak (I know a few beekeepers who admonished me). I was killing honeysuckle with it, now I use a tree-puller and yank 'em.

 

[ericm979]

I use herbicides as a last resort. I reached that point this year with our massive poison oak infestation. It's bad everywhere up here this year, not just my property.

I've been using Triclopyr (Garlon 4) on poison oak this year, based on recommendations from UC Davis Ag. It's broadleaf specific not broad spectum like Roundup. Reading the docs it's somewhat less toxic than Roundup. And when applied properly it's a lot more effective on poison oak than Roundup. Even better- a 20% solution in diesel, applied to a short section of stem, is especially effective and ends up using much less herbicide than foliar spray. It also works well in PO whose leaves are too high up to reach. However Triclopyr is only effective when the PO is growing and growing season's over now.

I follow Jeff's safety protocol when spraying.

I wonder if Glyphosphate from other sources has fewer toxic additions than Roundup?

 

[mcfarmall]

I don't plan on taking a bath it it, so for me I say "Better living through chemistry."

 

[CincyFlyer]

Note that I (and many others) call glyphosate "RoundUp". But there are several different formulations of RoundUp, most of which contain other chemicals. It's unlikely that you won't eat something from a field that's been sprayed with glyphosate in a given week! I've read quite a bit about it, and I'm not particularly worried about it. Still, there is a limit to how much of anything I'll spray about. Except, of course, my opinion!

 

[Utopia Texas]

How many follow prudent application suggestions?

Long sleeve shirt. Long pants. Gloves. Hat. Safety glasses.

Wash all clothes at days end. Do not wear a second day.

No smoking while spraying. No eating while spraying.

Bathe ASAP after spraying.

Prudent application is not the problem.
It has been found in water sources, human food crops and animals and I believe it will eventually be found to be a major source of human maladies/diseases. The original studies done on RoundUp were sponsored and paid for by Monsanto and accepted by the government at face value. The public has no idea how many millions of gallons of concentrate are used every year. I have been a commercial grower/farmer for 45 years and believe it will be outlawed eventually which will be too late for millions of folks with cancer or altered genetics. The human body has not evolved to absorb the chemicals we have created in the past 100+ years and we are seeing the results. In my career I have grown rice and cattle in Brazil, wine grapes in Argentine, capers and olives in Spain and Morocco and poinsettias in Lebanon. I have used RoundUp since it first came out in order to compete on the open market and keep my company viable but I do not like the chemical. I do not believe it is safe as Monsanto claims.

 

[roadhunter]

Monsanto would never do anything to hurt you.

LOL. I think people are slowly seeing the ugly side of big AG.

 

[CincyFlyer]

LOL. I think people are slowly seeing the ugly side of big AG.

Of course, the good side is the fact that world is being fed. I'm not paranoid; there's not been a huge increase in cancers or genetic defects.

 

[RandyT]

My thoughts are that it's a carcinogen. Use at your own risk.

California now list it as a prop 65 item, Known to the state of California to cause cancer. Glyphosate has also been found in vaccines..

 

[CincyFlyer]

California now list it as a prop 65 item, Known to the state of California to cause cancer. Glyphosate has also been found in vaccines..

California lists "freedom" as likely to cause cancer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I use herbicides as a last resort. I reached that point this year with our massive poison oak infestation. It's bad everywhere up here this year, not just my property.

I've been using Triclopyr (Garlon 4) on poison oak this year, based on recommendations from UC Davis Ag. It's broadleaf specific not broad spectum like Roundup. Reading the docs it's somewhat less toxic than Roundup. And when applied properly it's a lot more effective on poison oak than Roundup. Even better- a 20% solution in diesel, applied to a short section of stem, is especially effective and ends up using much less herbicide than foliar spray. It also works well in PO whose leaves are too high up to reach. However Triclopyr is only effective when the PO is growing and growing season's over now.

I follow Jeff's safety protocol when spraying.

I wonder if Glyphosphate from other sources has fewer toxic additions than Roundup?

Never seen growth like this year... bountiful doesn't describe it...