State Bans Sale of Natural Alternative to Cancer-Causing Roundup
Glyphosate, a registered pesticide has be labeled as a cancer causing agent. With ONE of EVERY THREE males and ONE in TWO Females in this country expected to get cancer you would think this news would prompt the State to initiate a ban or at least a plan to greatly reduce glyphosate’s usage. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Not only has it NOT been removed from store shelves, they continue to spray it around our cities, in our parks, and on our food. City authorities are well aware of its health consequences and yet, just yesterday city workers were spraying it in neighborhoods. Of even greater concern is that our state Department of Agriculture has just banned the sale of alternative weed killers forcing families to use to cancer causing toxins instead. Are you ready to call/email and ask WHY!!!
WORLD’S MOST POPULAR WEEDKILLER -GLYPHOSATE CAUSES CANCER.
Glyphosate is the chemical name of world’s most widely used and best-selling herbicide. In 2016, it has been labeled it a carcinogen (an agent that is directly related to causing cancer.) Over 100 million pounds are applied to U.S. farms and lawns every year, according to the EPA. In the home and garden sector, it is the second most-used pesticide, with over 5 million pounds used per year. Our local cities, such as the City of Caldwell and City of Boise regularly apply the poison to the streets, sidewalks and public spaces. Glyphosate is now widely available from many manufacturers under numerous trade names after patent protection ended in 2000: RoundUp, KleenUp, Accord, Imitator, Eraser, Pronto, Rodeo, etc.. There are over 750 products containing glyphosate for sale in the U.S2 , according to the National Pesticide Information Center.
VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO GLYPHOSATE?
Vinegar / acetic acid
According to the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, part of the USDA, in a study of using vinegar as a herbicide, results indicated that vinegar can kill several important weed species at several growth stages. Vinegar at 10%, 15% or 20% acetic acid concentration provided 80-100 percent kill of selected annual weeds, including giant foxtail up to 3 inches in height, common lambs quarters up to 5 inches, smooth pig weed up to 6 inches, and velvet leaf up to 9 inches.
Boise: IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STOPS SALE OF GLYPHOSATE ALTERNATIVE
July 14, 2017 according to a facebook post, North End Organic Nursery said, “The Idaho Department of Agriculture has issued a stop-sale order on the Horticultural Vinegar…after spending the last 30 minutes on the phone with the ISDA in regards to the sale of horticultural vinegar, they are standing by their stop sale because it is not a registered pesticide.
This food grade Horticultural vinegar has many different uses, and we believe they are out of their jurisdiction and scope of power to tell us that we are not allowed to sell it. There might be a fight ahead of us folks. They are going to be cracking down on others as well.”
WHY WOULD VINEGAR NEED TO BE REGISTERED BY THE EPA AS A PESTICIDE?
Glyphosate, a registered pesticide, has be labeled as a cancer causing agent. It has NOT been pulled from shelves. It has NOT been removed from regular use in our cities, parks, or on our food.
Horticultural Vinegar (20% acetic acid) can be used to effectively kill weeds without the toxic chemicals in the EPA registered versions of glyphosate.
Herbicidal vinegar is stronger than household vinegar: the acetic acid concentration for herbicidal use is 10 -20%, compared to 5% acetic acid. Acetic acids of 8% or less inert ingredient are exempt from registration by the EPA as a pesticide under EPA Minimum Risk Pesticide, FIFRA 25 (b). Most states require registration for use of acetic acid as a pesticide.
A product sold by North End Organic Nursery is not registered with EPA and does not qualify under the Minimum Risk Pesticide category for non-registration. It seems we have a gray area of the legal system.
There is a part of federal law which states that if a product clearly has uses other than as a pesticide AND the company makes no claims about that product having pesticide uses, it does not have to be registered as a pesticide. This law makes sense for things like citric acid, culinary herbs and their oils, and other products that are used in many other applications besides pesticides. Acetic acid has numerous other uses so it, too, falls under this category.
It makes you wonder…
What is the Department of Agriculture doing to reduce the exposure of a carcinogenic chemical for State employees (forced to handle the material) and the general public (forced exposure)?
Shouldn’t the Department of Agriculture be working to find ways to reduce the usage of a known carcinogen rather than eliminating options of alternatives?
if you would like to ask these questions directly to those in power making the decisions they can be reached at
these contact names were taken from list of State Contacts in the Agriculture Department
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RESOURCES ON THE ALTERNATIVES OF GLYPHOSATE as a weed killer.
A University of Maryland report from 2017
PROs: • Excellent control when contacting very small annual broadleaf weeds • Rapid kill rate (Over 90% of treated plants should die within 24hours). • Acetic acid products break down quickly in the environment • Most useful for managing weeds in gravel and onpatios/sidewalks. • These contact herbicides fit into an integrated pest management program; although weeds require monitoring for best control timing. • Non selective, but mainly kill broadleaf weeds. Burns back grasses
Studies have found that properly applied acetic acid appears to have promising results at controlling the following weeds: broadleaf plantain9 , carpetweed5 , common chickweed10, cutleaf evening primrose11, ground ivy9 , oriental mustard12, pale smartweed10, tumble pigweed5 , spiny amaranth5 , lambsquarters13, velvetleaf 9 , and recently germinated crabgrass14. Although the overall cost is higher than traditional herbicides, careful weed monitoring and spot applications as part of an IPM program could reduce material cost.
