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organic_johnny

Losing battle to the thistles...

Organic_johnny
19 years ago

I've spent the last 9 months or so clearing, tilling, and prepping several acres of long-unused farmland in the hopes of turning it into an organic farm and nursery. Mostly, it's gone pretty well (though many hard lessons learned on the way), but I have a few large (1/2 acre+) patches that are completely dominated by Canada Thistle.

So, I'm thinking now that there just isn't much option but to hit them with some chemicals. Most of these fields are slated for perennial crops and nursing, and I just can't plant them without killing the thistle first (especially in the nursing fields...I can't sell plants that have thistle in their roots).

I'm hoping some of the knowledgeable organic folks will be able to give me some advice on this. First, I'm planning on certifying as much land as posible as organic, as soon as possible (I'm guessing not for 3 years anyway, as I have no records or treatments before I moved in). So, I'm guessing that If I'm going to hit the thistles with something, it's best to do it now and get it over with.

The question is really just this: what to use? I really don't have a lot of experience using such chems, and I'm not sure wether I should try starting with roundup, or just go ahead and use the nastiest, most lethal chemical I can find? (The nature conservancy's ESA goes into a fair amount of detail on both of these approaches.) I'd kind of like it to be a quick kill, so that I can get a cover/forage crop in by fall, and begin turning my fields into an organic farm.

BTW, I'm posting here rather than in another forum because I'm guessing you guys will be more understanding of the urgency of returning the fields to organic treatment ASAP. Didn't want to post it in discussions because it's not really an OG question (or is it?). Advice and/or moral support would be most appreciated!

Comments (73)

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    So, Jason, it turns to be undeniable that you have been and continue to support cyber-gardening. Well, I sure there is room in this world for all kinds of wanna-be's. ;)

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thistles are another kind of creature defying reasonable control measures. Eventually, natural/biologic controls will take out the extreme dominance. Moreover, better soil management will be found to minimize edaphic conditions favoring invasiveness. In the meantime, go the mechanical route since you seem to have already messed with the stands of thistles. You will have not only to exhaust existing root systems but also to exhaust accumulated seed deposits.

    Around here yellow (star) thistles has come to dominate. I haven't had any stands at my farm or orchard, unlike my "conventional" neighbors who are forever spraying Roundup.

    Long before I opened up the grounds currently in vegetables and in fruit trees, I did spot treat bindweed, bermuda, and nutgrass with Roundup. Most of the ground sat fallow after treatment for 4 to 8 years before being planted for organic production. One parcel still sits as a seasonal meadow because we haven't been able to remove all the bermuda grass. If we disc and harrow that parcel, we might as well plan on a new bermuda lawn over the area. Bermuda keep reappearing in the vegetable fields where we dig the grass out before it has a chance to throw stolons and new centers of growth.

  • Jason_MI
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well Marshall, it's been a long row to hoe, so to speak, but you weirdos must be rubbing off on me. Three years ago, I had enough chemicals in my garage to make the selection at your local big box shameful. Now, I'm down to just what's left, and a couple things I use commercially (that is, at commercial buildings I own). Yep. I mechanically till. I admit it. And yes, I admit that I do NOT have a compost pile.....uh.....I haven't finalized the construction plans yet. Yeah. That's it. Soon though.....as soon as it gets through the planning committee....I mean, I have to take a lot of time on this; I don't want to go completely native, er, I mean, organic all at once, but I'm trying; the corner posts for it (and the sides), CAN'T be PT or plastic lumber, cuz that's bad....and it has to be in a special location.......

    I will relate this, however; as you know, I'm a pumpkin dude. I grow pumpkins. Not well, not all survive, but I do well enough. And I'm sure from my posts you know that my neighbor is a former timber lobbyist, and about the most competitive person I've ever met; so of course, he tries to make his garden better than ours....and fails miserably. Roundup just doesn't seem to work. He had one pumpkin last year. I had enough for the Halloween party, and enough to give 40 needy children a pumpkin (since they want like $5 each at the store). And of course, all my pumpkin seeds ended up being chemical free.....

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Marshall: so are you doing no-till now? How do you kill the cover crops? Just curious...I recently read about planting winter wheat in the spring between rows, then allowing it to conveniently die in the heat and thus create a mulch. I guess my impression has been that cover/smother crops need to be tilled in before they go to seed and become another weed to deal with.

    CT, at least around here, is rarely a seed problem...generally moves vegetatively on equipment, contaminated stock, etc., so the biggest issue with it has been proper sanitation on the tiller, tires, etc. Getting a decent soil established does seem to help. I'm sure I'll be spot treating too for quite a few years, but pulling will be the prime tool for that. I'll probably start using those fields in the spring for annual crops...perennial crops will wait until a field has had at least 3 years without re-emergence of the thistle and/or stiltgrass (fortunately, stiltgrass doesn't stand up to the tilling).

  • alfie_md6
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    (Begin hijack of thread)

    Jason, all you gotta do to compost is start composting. IALBTC regardless of whether the bin is made of CCA wood or Trex or plastic or 55-gallon drums of who-knows-what hazardous waste. Or even if you don't have a bin at all! (Mind you, my personal experience is limited to no bins and plastic Rubbermaid worm bins. But Professor Dirt says IALBTC, and it certainly seems reasonable to me.)

    And furthermore, all you have to do to go organic is stop using chemical *cides and fertilizers. You don't have to aspire to homesteading and grow (and can) 17 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. You don't have to (at least in my opinion) stop using mouse poison in the attic. You don't have to write poems about your spiritual connection with Mother Earth. You don't have to swear off Twinkies and wear sandals with socks and put soymilk in your Fair Trade coffee and vote for the other presidential candidate whose campaign is currently being supported by Republicans. You don't even have to stop tilling! Just stop using those chemical *cides and fertilizers.

    So, when are you going to get started :-)?

    (end hijack)

  • alfie_md6
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey, Marshall, we finally celebrated The Festival of the First Harvest of Rosa Bianca Eggplants (two of 'em, each about the size of my fist, pink and white and lovely, brushed with olive oil and baked at 450 in the toaster oven until they were nice and mushy) and ... they were bitter! I was the only one who would eat them, and even that was only out of principle. Now what?

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Do a penance appropriate for your religious persuasion and vow not to grow THREE eggplants in the SAME small pot again.

    Bitterness in solanaceae, just as in lettuces, comes with bouts of stress during the growing period and at the end of the cycle. Did the Rosa Biancas still have a high gloss? Some folks wait too long, hoping for more sizing. As seeds develop, so does the bitterness.

    Covering slices of eggplant with table salt will draw out liquid (including some of the bitter elements.) Some bathe their slices in milk too. Overcooking ain't such a hot idea either.

    I like to cook eggplant on a charcoal grill, searing the cut surfaces and setting off to the side to cook a bit more slowly, well based with olive oil prepped ahead of time with thyme

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hmmm, back to a bit of topical stuff:

    the *&%(&%^ thistle is finally wilting out...now I'm wondering if it's safe to load on chips now...some of these spots need some SERIOUS organic matter in any case. Was thinking of trying a cover of about 8" or so...but worried that I might have to repeat the treatment. Will that hurt the organisms breaking down the wood chips?

    I think Alfie at least is familiar with my sudden abundance of chips from the power company (getting in 1-4 truckloads daily, and the drivers are more than happy to just keep coming by). I'm thinking that this might be less frustrating (not to mention cheaper) than if I were to plant a cover crop and have to repeat the spray.

    -johnny, who has stolen Alfie's habit of tag-lining my posts. I think I'll trademark it and sue her later :).

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I always recommend mulching to depth of up to a foot any problematic ground to be planted to perennials in the future. The microbiology of "woody" sheet composting mimics that found under forested lands, heavy on the fungi and saphorites (spelling?). Spot weeding or spraying scattered weeds succeeding in growing through the mulch are much simpler than trying weed control through desired vegetation.

    Is that on-topic enough?

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    "Faust" seems somewhat appropriate, a little exagerrated, but as long as you don't use Organic_faust, why not? I'm doubt if anyone else on g'web is using Faust as a member name. You can always just go with Conventional_johnny or Transitional_johnny.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    actually, organic_faust has a nice ring to it!

    -Herr K.

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    But does it ring true? Truth, of course, is purely subjective.

    -Frau A

  • AzDesertRat
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    How about Pseudo_Organic_Johnny

    But seriously, how many truckloads of wood chips would you need to cover all of that acerage with 8" to a foot of wood chips? Next question, are you going to till that in the spring or let it decompose in place? My thoughts are that a foot of wood chips may take a year or more to decompose in place. Sort of hard to plant something that way.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ah, but is the truth in the saying or in the listening?

    Quite a few truckloads...the worst patch so far is about 14,000 sq ft. Would probably leave it on for about 3-4 months after the last appearance of the thistle, then till it.

    Actually though, sheet-composting of wood chips can be sped up considerably by an occaisional tilling (of the chips, not the soil beneath...precision tilling?).

  • Jason_MI
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You know, a tractor with a 4' tiller might do wonders for you, buddy.....there's something to be said for mechanical tilling (but just in this instance, of course).

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    LOL...already got a 5 ft tiller. What I'm hankering for for next year is a 5' flamer to create those stale seedbeds I've been reading so much about.

    How come you guys dislike tillers so much anyway? Can't imagine trying to break fields of this size without one (or alternatively using a LOT of herbicides).

  • AzDesertRat
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I don't think most of dislike tilling, it is just that most of us don't have tillers. On top of that, a lot of us are sold on the no-till method for improving the soil. It is easy and seems to replicate nature and doesn't destroy the soil structure. Leaves falling decompose work back into the soil, trees falling in the woods decomposing, animals dying, etc., etc., etc..

    In some case a tiller is needed. But only for a one time step in improving the soil, removing stumps, etc. I concur with Jason that you should till the soil, just this one time of course.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You guys would probably be horrified by my tiller usage then...once on wet to break the sod, then again as soon as it's bone dry, to shred and dehydrate the perennials, then one more dry to smooth out...followed by hours of picking out the larger stones.

    Following years I'll just be doing a 2" till when it's time to knock the cover crops or work in the old mulch...

    It is pretty amazing how the thing pops stumps out of the ground! Bigger stumps just get sliced up, but shrubby stumps end up sitting on the ground roots up. Only thing that creates a problem is old, buried barbed wire, which "turns up" in unexpected places.

  • Jason_MI
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Me? I use a small rototiller (you know..Troybilt style), all the time. It has replaced Roundup in my garden. That's a good tradeoff, I think...but I plan to use it less as the soil gets better. I think when I'm referring to tilling, I'm referring to plowing, discing, etc....basically what caused the big dustbowls, if I'm not mistaken. Also, on places that size, I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong), "no till", as used by modern farmers, replaces mechanical tilling with more chemicals....is that not true?

  • AzDesertRat
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You are correct regarding the no-till systems basically replaces mechanical tilling with chemicals. I was referring to the suburban gardeners with their 1/4 acre plots.

    For me anyway, even in these desert soils, just laying down organic material for 3-6 months has a profound improvement on soil structure and fertility. I think the high temperatures (and humidity now) help break down the OM fairly quickly. In the summers here, I will "lose" 2-3" of mulch on the soil. I control weeds the old fashioned way, pull them out by hand. Mulching has reduced the number of weeds, but I can see where it may be an issue with larger plots.

    BTW Jason where do you live in MI. I actually went to school at Ferris in Big Rapids. And yes, went to high school in PA, and lived in 5 other states, and 3 other countries also.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Principles of Integrated Weed Management (Canada)

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm pretty sure plowing and disking are less harmful to the soil than tilling (dust bowl was more about when tilling occurred, lack of wind breaks, not following the land's contours, etc.). Tilling pretty much destroys the soil structure, also introduces more oxygen than should be present, allowing the best parts of compost to oxidize more quickly than they should. OTOH, adding lots of compost creates a different soil structure and makes up for what was oxidized.

    There is some cutting edge research being done on no-till organic techniques however. I'm going to try to incorporate some of it once I have a better handle on the weeds I have now.

    Link is to a NEW FARM page...if you search the site for "no till" you'll get plenty more articles.

    Here is a link that might be useful: no-till organic vegetable crops

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If you're not busy Aug. 5, you can make a trip to attend this gathering. I received this notice in my e-mail box.

    A Farm Field Day at Virginia Techs Kentland Research Farm Thursday evening August 5 at 5:00 \- 8:00 pm with a Potluck Supper The New River Chapter of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming and the Horticulture Department of Virginia Tech invite you to see and learn about cover\-crop based, sustainable, no\-till vegetable production systems. In these systems, vigorous annual cover crops such as rye + hairy vetch, or millet + cowpeas, are grown to flowering, then mechanically killed by rolling or mowing. This leaves a mulch through which vegetables such as broccoli or tomato can be transplanted no\-till, with minimal soil disturbance. The benefits include: Higher soil organic matter, biological activity and quality; Weed suppression by the mulch; Nitrogen provided by leguminous cover crops; Mulch provides habitat for beneficial insects; Reduced inputs and production costs; No herbicides, suitable for organic farms. The production system is further enhanced by farmscape plantings, which are mixtures of certain flowering plants such as buckwheat, coriander and yarrow. These provide food and habitat for key beneficial insects that prey on or parasitize major insect pests of vegetables. At the field day, we will display and discuss: Six acres of research trials on organic transition land at Kentland Farm Various cover crops suitable for on\-farm, solar\-powered soil building and no\-till management, No\-till broccoli, summer squash, pumpkin and potato in cover crop residues, A diversity of farmscape plantings and beneficial insects, Equipment for no\-till soil preparation and vegetable planting, from small and simple to larger scale. Presenters include Horticulture Professor Emeritus Ron Morse, graduate student Brinkley Benson, insect bio\-control specialist Richard McDonald, and research consultant Mark Schonbeck. The team has received several grants to conduct this research at Kentland Research Farm and several working farms. The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is supporting projects on organic no\-till potato and broccoli production. The USDA Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) is funding research and demonstration of a diverse, three\-year rotation of vegetable and cover crops. Finally, a grant from the Organic Farming Research Foundation of Palo Alto, CA has offered us a grant to evaluate a variety of non\-winter\-hardy cover crops to provide a winter\-killed mulch for early spring vegetables. In these studies, no\-till and conventionally tilled treatments are compared in terms of vegetable yield, pest and weed levels, changes in soil quality, and net economic returns. Come join us to find out how cover crops and farmscape plantings can make organic no\-till vegetable production a reality. Bring a potluck dish to share, and meet us at Kentland Farm at 5:00 pm Thursday August 5. Directions: From Rte 460, take the Prices Fork exit and continue on the main road into Prices Fork. At McCoy Road, turn right, and continue for several miles. Turn left at Whitethorne Road (there will be a sign for Kentland Farm), then just before you reach a small bridge, turn right onto a gravel driveway passing through a gate onto the farm. (NOTE if you reach the main entrance to Kentland Farm, with a paved road, speed bump and small office building, you have gone about 100 yards too far.) Park in the area indicated. We will be gathering in a shady spot with tables and chairs, near the research plots. Come rain or shine, if it rains, we will continue in a sheltered space at Kentland.
  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sounds nifty...wish it were a bit closer though :).

  • alfie_md6
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You know, Johnny, I've been slumming on other forums lately, including the Native Plants forum, and I wonder if you couldn't just change your log-on name to Native_Johnny. There seem to be plenty of people over there who would have no objection whatsoever to bathing the world in Round-up and Garlon if only it would get rid of the tamarisk, Japanese honeysuckle, Russian olive, and, presumably, Canada thistle. What do you think?

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Slumming? I'd have to say that the OG forum has more the feel of a ghetto (or maybe an aryan nation camp) than most others I hang out on :).

    Seriously though, I'm not much of a nativist when it comes to plants...had to laugh at a recent argument over there about growing invasive tomatoes and almond trees! I suppose we can forgive the american members of that forum: Monsanto is an American company after all, and I'm sure, given time, that roundup will prove to be good for songbirds.

    I guess that obliquely hits the core of my current internal debate: I went and got myself a farm that needs SERIOUS work, and I want everything done yesterday. Owning and breaking a wild farm has given me a very different perspective on my priorities...my previous "home garden" was only 100X50 ft (all organic), and my "other gardens" are paid for by the folks who hire me. Now I've got 24 acres of invasive weeds, aster yellows, dodder, and crappy soil, and the shortcuts are becoming more appealing.

    Anyway, I'm ranting...time to get back out there and till the next victim/field (I had only come to the computer to see the radar, then got distracted).

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    (Just an aside...the weather forecasts are driving my crazy again...was supposed to rain all weekend, but only spat a couple times. Back to irrigating :(.)

    My earlier internal debate was more to do with native plants...just hated the thought of tilling them all under, and spent more time than I should have rescuing a bunch of them. OTOH, I've learned a lot about how they grow and bloom since I started...I take about 40 photos a day in the hopes of looking up more about them in the winter.

    Yesterday I mowed down and tilled joe pye weed, ironweed, goldenrod, and milkweeds...all in bloom, kind of a bummer! At least the soil was good on that field (and thistle-free). This week's field will be even sadder: huge elderberries there now.

    It's mostly been just an experience of agricultural irony in moving from A to B with a lot of it. Mowing and tilling native wildflower meadows and yummy blackberries, cutting down big trees (many of which are trees I like), all so I can grow food, native plants, and more trees. I guess I shouldn't blink so much about needing to use roundup to prep a field for organic growing.

    Speaking of the roundup: I really don't like the stuff. The areas I treated look sickly and poisonous...I don't even like looking at them (kind of reminds me of Mordor?). I just hope it works as well as it's touted, so I don't have to do it again!

  • gardengardengardenga
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What about Ready_and_Round-up_Johnny, or vice versa.

    My apologizes, I couldnt help myself.

    Cheers-GGX2

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    RoundUp_Ready_Johnny?

    Actually seriously considering a switch to "Sweetbottom_Farmer" (after my farm).

  • alfie_md6
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Seems a bit X-rated to me, unless you're referring to changing diapers :-).

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My farm is a bottomland on a dolomite/granite base. Sweet soil, bottom of the hill.

    OTOH, never hurts to give a farm's/nursery's name a bit of sex appeal :).

    Speaking of bottomland...we really got a good flooding yesterday evening! Funny thing too, as I was planning to irrigate it. So much easier to let the creek come do it for me :).

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Just thought I'd share this: turns out that my goats consider canada thistle to be a delicacy. If I only knew then...

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Give them a real treat and go for the poison ivy/poison oak.

    In Cal. goats are used to browse off poison oak, thistle and other rather noxious/obnoxious growth for fire fuel suppression and pasture rehab.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    They've been eating a smidgeon of PI, but at the moment they're far more interested in the japanese honeysuckle (which is evergreen here). I plan to put them out with the PI in the spring when it leafs out. They have eaten a few big vines off the trees and where it was growing on the barn.

    The thistle is also evergreen here...I'm wondering if they'll be as interested in it when there are more less spiny things about for browsing.

  • nandina
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Johnny,
    I stumbled across this old thread today and noted that you will receive a copy of what I am about to write. For many organic suggestions I reach for a book on my bookshelf titled "Agriculture of Massachutsetts, 1864" by C.L. Flint. This book contains the minutes of the 12th meeting of the MA. Board of Agriculture and is a treasure trove of farm ideas reported by farmers across the State. There is a long discussion of ridding fields of Canadian thistle. A Mr. Anderson spoke on the subject......

    "When they (Canadian thistle) are in full bloom, I cut them off. If they are mowed about that time, the stalks, which are hollow become filled with water, and they do not grow again. I have found that in two or three mowings I got rid of them."

    Several other farmers agreed with Mr. Anderson. Perhaps this is worth a try.

  • joepyeweed
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    i saw this old thread a long time ago and never posted. but i do want to say that i am sad about the tilled in joe pye weed :^(

    actually joe pye can be quite aggressive and readily reseeds itself in the right conditions.

    organic johnny - have you tried any prescribed burning to control your untamed farm?

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nandina...cool book to be reading, where'd ya find that one?

    The graze and mow method is pretty much where I'm aiming to go now...also interplanting with allelopaths such as sunflower and winter rye. I know from experience that it definitely doesn't tolerate regular mowing, as it never invades lawns.

    The other place it's been a problem is on the roadsides (both are elevated above the farm), but we're planting bamboo there anyway, so the thistle won't stand a chance in there anyway.

    joepyeweed: sorry for tilling your namesakes :). Burning wouldn't work well here, since my fields are mostly narrow bands between woodlots, roads, powerlines, outbuildings, wetlands, and creeks. We've got 24 acres, but only 14 at most are useful for conventional agriculture or nursery.

  • joepyeweed
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    unfortunately the burning of powerline and buildings is highly frowned upon. however a controlled burn, done at the right time of year, through woodlands, wetlands and creeks actually has great ecological benefit to those types of areas... that type of burn should only be done by a professional though. and that type of burn usually takes a year of planning to set up the right breaks and stuff.

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I missed this question when it ws first posed: "Ah, but is the truth in the saying or in the listening?"

    Either or both.

    I posted the earliest report of this study on another forum and I feel compelled to post this more detailed report somewhere else (but not on the other side for obvious reasons).

    Just in time for spring.

    *****

    http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GTARW.phpISIS Press Release 07/03/05

    Glyphosate Toxic & Roundup Worse

    Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Joe Cummins call for urgent regulatory review
    of the most widely used herbicide in the light of new scientific evidence

    New research findings are raising serious concerns over the safety of
    the most commonly used herbicide, and should be sending shockwaves
    through proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops made tolerant to
    the herbicide, which now account for 75% of all GM crops in the world.

    Worse yet, the most common formulation of the herbicide is even more
    toxic than the herbicide by itself, and is made by the same biotech
    giant that created the herbicide tolerant GM crops.

    Broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine),
    commonly sold in the commercial formulation Roundup (Monsanto company,
    St. Louis, Missouri USA) has been frequently used both on crops and
    non-crops areas world wide since it was introduced in the 1970s. Roundup
    is a combination of glyphosate with other chemicals including a
    surfactant (detergent) polyoxyethyleneamine that enhance the spreading
    of the spray droplets on the leaves of plants. The use of Roundup has
    gone up especially in countries growing Roundup-tolerant GM crops
    created by Monsanto.

    Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme,
    5-enolpyruvoyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthetase (EPSPS), essential for
    the formation of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine
    and tryptophan; which leads onto vitamins and many secondary metabolites
    such as folates, ubiquinones and naphthoquines. It is believed to be
    rather specific in action and less toxic than other herbicides, because
    the shikimate pathway is not present in mammals and humans. However,
    glyphosate acts by preventing the binding of phosphoenol pyruvate to the
    active site of the enzyme, and phosphoenol pyruvate is a core metabolite
    present in all organisms; thus it has the potential to affect other
    metabolic pathways. This is borne out by many reports of toxicities
    associated with the herbicide reviewed in the Independent Science Panel
    Report, The Case for a GM-free Sustainable World [1].

    An epidemiological study in the Ontario farming populations showed that
    glyphosate exposure nearly doubled the risk of late spontaneous
    abortions [2], and Prof. Eric-Giles Seralini and his research team from
    Caen University in France decided to find out more about the effects of
    the herbicide on cells from the human placenta.

    They have now shown that glyphosate is toxic to human placental cells,
    killing a large proportion of them after 18 hr of exposure at
    concentrations below that in agricultural use [3]. Moreover, Roundup is
    always more toxic than its active ingredient, glyphosate; at least by
    two-fold. The effect increased with time, and was obtained with
    concentrations of Roundup 10 times lower than agricultural use.

    The enzyme aromatase is responsible for making the female hormones
    estrogens from androgens (the male hormones). Glyphosate interacts with
    the active site of the enzyme but its effect on enzyme activity was
    minimal unless Roundup was present.

    Interestingly, Roundup increased enzyme activity after 1 h of
    incubation, possibly because of its surfactant effect in making the
    androgen substrate more available to the enzyme. But at 18h incubation,
    Roundup invariably inhibited enzyme activity; the inhibition being
    associated with a decrease in mRNA synthesis, suggesting that Roundup
    decreased the rate of gene transcription. Seralini and colleagues
    suggest that other ingredients in the Roundup formulation enhance the
    availability or accumulation of glyphosate in cells.

    There is, indeed, direct evidence that glyphosate inhibits RNA
    transcription in animals at a concentration well below the level that is
    recommended for commercial spray application Transcription was inhibited
    and embryonic development delayed in sea urchins following exposure to
    low levels of the herbicide and/or the surfactant polyoxyethyleneamine.
    The pesticide should be considered a health concern by inhalation during
    spraying [4].

    New research shows that a brief exposure to commercial glyphosate caused
    liver damage in rats, as indicated by the leakage of intracellular liver
    enzymes. In this study, glyphosate and its surfactant in Roundup were
    also found to act in synergy to increase damage to the liver [5].

    Three recent case-control studies suggested an association between
    glyphosate use and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [6-8]; while a
    prospective cohort study in Iowa and North Carolina that includes more
    than 54 315 private and commercial licensed pesticide applicators
    suggested a link between glyphosate use and multiple myoeloma [9].
    Myeloma has been associated with agents that cause either DNA damage or
    immune suppression. These studies did not distinguish between Roundup
    and glyphosate, and it would be important for that to be done.

    There is now a wealth of evidence that glyphosate requires worldwide
    health warnings and new regulatory review. Meanwhile, its use should be
    reduced to a minimum as a matter of prudent precaution.

    References
    The Case for a GM-Free Sustainable World, Chapter 7, ISIS & TWN, London
    & Penang, 2003.
    Savitz DA, Arbuckle , Kaczor D, Curtis KM. Male pesticide exposure and
    pregnancy outcome. Am J Epidemiol 2000, 146, 1025-36.
    Richard S, Moslemi S, Sipahutar H, Benachour N and Seralini G-E.
    Differential effects of glyphosate and Roundup on human placental cells
    and aromatases
    Marc J, Le Breton M, CormierP, Morales J, BelleR and Mulner-Lorillo O.
    A glyphosate-based pesticide impinges on transcription. Toxicology and
    Applied Pharmacology 2005, 203, 1-8.
    Benedetti AL, de Lourdes Vituri C, Trentin AG, Dominguesc MAC and
    Alvarez-Silva M. The effects of sub-chronic exposure of Wistar rats to
    the herbicide Glyphosate-Biocarb. Toxicology Letters 2004, 153, 227­32.
    De Roos AH, Zahm SH, Cantor KP, et al. Integrative assessment of
    multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma among
    men. Occup Environ Med 2003, 60, E11
    http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/60/9/e11
    Hardell L, Eriksson M, Nordstrom M. Exposure to pesticides as risk
    factor for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled
    analysis of two Swedish case-control studies. Leuk Lymphoma 2002,
    43,1043­1049.
    McDuffie HH, Pahwa P, McLaughlin JR, Spinelli JJ, Fincham S, Dosman JA,
    et al. 2001. Non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and specific pesticide exposures in
    men: cross-Canada study of pesticides and health. 2001, Cancer Epidemiol
    Biomarkers Prev 2001,10,1155­63.
    De Roos AJ, Blair A, Rusiecki JA, Hoppin JA, Svec M, Dosemeci M, Sandler
    DP and Alavanja MC. Cancer incidence among glyphosate-exposed pesticide
    applicators in the agricultural health study. Environ Health Perspect
    2005, 113, 49-54.

    The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
    telephone: [44 20 8452 2729] [44 20 7272 5636]

    General Enquiries sam@i-sis.org.uk - Website/Mailing List
    press-release@i-sis.org.uk - ISIS Director m.w.ho@i-sis.org.uk

    ****************************************************************************
    ****************************
    This GMO news service is underwritten by a generous grant from the Newman's
    Own Foundation, edited by Thomas Wittman and is a production of the
    Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org
    *********************

  • marshallz10
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks for posting the whole article, Althea. I've been warned by the Powers-That-Be against posting copywritten materials; this one is allowed as long as full attributions are included. Prof. Cummins has been issuing commentaries on/criticisms of published scientific papers on glyphosate and related herbicides. The evidence mounts about health and safety concerns about the herbicides, particularly the "inert" and synergistic materials added to the commercial formulations.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Great article, Althea...is that available anywhere on the web? I'd like to link to that for my "organic-with-roundup" clients (you know the type).

    I'm having a different issue with the RU now...what to do with the rest of the bottle? I guess the landfill is the only real option.

    I'm coming up on another struggle now...we have a wet meadow which is overrun by reed canary. It's a wetland, therefore under DEP rules, which say that we CAN'T use tilling, solarization, or (technically) hand-digging, and have asked us to use Rodeo instead (which is just glyphosate without the binding agents). That's turning out to be much more of a stumper than the thistles...the uninvaded parts have milkweeds, joepyeweeds, asters, goldenrods, ironweeds, almistas, etc., and are a beauty to behold all year round. My first instinct would be to stake in silky dogwood, willow, and alder to shade it out, but part of the meadow is under powerlines, therefore no shrubs allowed.

    If it's not one thing, it's another :). If it weren't so wet, I'd use the goats, but foot-rot doesn't sound like much fun (for them or for me).

  • joepyeweed
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    oh johnny, your met meadow sounds beautiful! I am sad to hear about the reed canary grass. It is pretty much impossible (takes alot of work) to get rid of...and unfortunately, if you dont get rid of it, eventually that will be only plant left in the wet meadow :-(

    you may be able to get temporary variances on the the deq rules for tilling or solarization, specific to controlling invasive species in accordance with an approved wetland maitenance and monitoring plan...something worth discussing with them in detail. i would think the deq would rather you control it than lose the rest of the meadow.

    i like to look at the Wisconsin DNR invasive species control site as they provide pretty good description of each species and their reccomendations for control. the link might be useful for you...

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Johnny, the url to the article is at the very beginning. Here it is again: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GTARW.php .

    I recommend taking your left over herbicide to your county household hazardous waste collection. Household hazardous waste here includes lawn & garden chemicals. It probably does in PA too.

    I've never heard of canary reed grass. Can you cut it & feed it to the goats, and after it has been cut, reseed with native grasses with hopes of them filling in while the canary grass in weakened?

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I understand from The One Who Knows, these fora do not allow a direct link to the ISIS website.

  • carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey look....

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks Carol.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    "I've never heard of canary reed grass. Can you cut it & feed it to the goats, and after it has been cut, reseed with native grasses with hopes of them filling in while the canary grass in weakened?"

    The problem is that unless we had a long drought, there's really no way to harvest this stuff as hay without causing severe disturbance to the soil (the tractor would sink in pretty far in on such wet ground). If we have a no-rain period for more than a week, I could probably put the portable fence in there to let the goats munch the stuff, but goats ain't sheep, and won't eat it to the ground unless I lock them in there for a couple weeks (in which case they might turn to eating the poisonous plants).

    "I understand from The One Who Knows, these fora do not allow a direct link to the ISIS website."

    Given our kind host's penchion (sp?) for free speech and proper footnoting, that sounds a bit silly. In any case, thanks, Carol, for the link!

    FYI: Reed Canary is one of those odd native plants that suddenly becomes invasive in disturbed habitats (Phragmites and Ragweed are two other examples of this type).

  • althea_gw
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    First, I forgot to say "you're welcome Marshall". I've comne to respect Prof. Cummins opinions on this and other issues.

    "but goats ain't sheep"

    How about getting a couple of sheep?

    I've tried to link sites that have been banned for whatever reason. I forgot exactly what the message says, but your message won't get past preview if you try to link a banned site.

  • Organic_johnny
    Original Author
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Interesting... 'nuff said on the banned site issue :)

    I don't want sheep because (a) I personally find them to be rather stupid and unloveable animals, (b) because they have messy poop (unlike goat "pellets"), (c) sheep really need a dedicated and maintained "pasture", while goats are more than happy to eat multiflora rose, japanese honeysuckle, and other things I don't like and don't need to maintain (i.e., goats are low maintenance), and (d) I had enough of a time convinceing my wife that goats are a good thing to have, and I'm currently entrenched in the "we could really use some chickens" battle...no need to add sheep to the list :).

    Besides, sheep are very susceptible to foot rot, and would not be happy in my wet meadow.

    Is there such a thing as a miniature hippo? That might be just the thing!

  • nora_in_vancouver
    19 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, I'm surprised no one has brought forward this link yet. Organic control of thistles (under some very specific conditions).

    Could be hype, or could be real. We live very close to Saltspring Island, and it is loaded with organic "hobby farms".

  • vstech
    18 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    again, sorry I did not know about this site years ago! anyway, I lived in SD near Rapid City, and CT was very tenatious there, we always followed the general practice used there by the farmers, wait for it to form flowers, then cut it down before the flowers turn to seed, repeat three times a year, 2 years, thistle gone!
    neat story about the soil amendments, if the stuff ever invades my NC home, I will give it a try.