Roundup (chemical name glyphosate) is the most commonly used herbicide in the world. However, due to weed resistance and human health concerns, its days may be numbered. How will farmers control weeds chemically if this product is gone? The following is a highly technical summary of herbicide alternatives to using Roundup (common name) or glyphosate. One reason glyphosate was so popular was because crops like corn and soybeans were inserted with genetically modified genes that allowed the plant to survive the chemical application. Several crops now have genetically modified genes for various herbicides. The problem is that none are quite as good as glyphosate, either due to performance or lower cost. However, there are some options. Burndown chemicals are used at the beginning of the growing season to kill the first flush of weeds. Weeds compete with the main grain crop for moisture and nutrients. Killing weeds early is the best strategy. However, often cool soil and air temperat...

  With the selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services, many farmers are wondering how long Roundup (active ingredient glyphosate) will be around. On 298 million acres of USA cropland, 280 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually. Globally, Roundup (glyphosate) has increased 15X since its introduction in 1996 due the use of genetically modified crops which allow its use without killing the main crop.  The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has ruled glyphosate a carcinogen. The IARC says that glyphosate could cause Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and cancer. The USA has not outlawed glyphosate or even definitely said what health risks may or may not be caused by glyphosate use. Many legal and health questions remain about the use of glyphosate. In agriculture, weed resistance is becoming another problem, especially with glyphosate. Weeds over time genetically change to become re...

  Roundup or glyphosate (RR) is the most common agricultural herbicide used to kill broadleaf and grass weeds. In the USA, 280 million pounds of RR annually is used on about 298 million cropland acres. Worldwide, about 19 billion pounds RR (almost 10 million tons) have been applied since 1974. Roundup (RR) is a common generic name for glyphosate but it also called Rodeo, KleenUp, Accord, Imitator, Eraser, Pronto, Touchdown, Cornerstone, Buccaneer etc. The USA is the biggest user of RR in the world. Since many crops have been genetically modified to tolerate RR, it is commonly used on corn, soybeans, canola, sugar beets, cotton, and alfalfa. But it is also used as a weed burndown or to terminate cover crops before crops are planted or emerge including wheat, oats, sunflowers etc. Glyphosate (RR) is used almost everywhere because it kills most weeds effectively and cheaply. Over time, many weeds have become weeds resistant to RR because of over usage. Weeds are very resilient and oft...

  Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup which is the number one weed killer (herbicide) worldwide. About 90% of major USA crops (corn, soybeans) use glyphosate to kill weeds. China is the biggest manufacturer of glyphosate, but due to supply shortages and higher fuel prices; glyphosate is in short supply and prices are at least 3-4X higher than normal. This next year, farmers may have to have to adapt their weed control programs by using less glyphosate. Glyphosate or Roundup was invented in 1950 but was not approved or used by Monsanto as a herbicide until 1974. Glyphosate use became dominant when soybeans and then corn were genetically modified in 1996 to resist glyphosate. Glyphosate is made from an amino acid called glycine, so it is readily absorbed by plants and breaks down quickly in the soil. Glyphosate kills most weeds fairly easily. Over time, at least 29-30 weeds have become resistant to glyphosate. Resistant weeds include the pigweed family (water hemp, Palmer ...