permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

On Sat, Apr 11, 2015 at 9:55 PM, Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Monsanto knew of glyphosate / cancer link 35 years ago | GM-Free Cymru
> Special Report | gmfreecymru.org
> http://www.gmfreecymru.org/documents/monsanto_knew_of_glyphosate.html
>
> Monsanto knew of glyphosate / cancer link 35 years ago
>
> GM-Free Cymru Special Report
>
> 8th April 2015
>
> According to evidence unearthed from the archives of the EPA
> (Environmental Protection Agency) in the United States, it has been
> established that Monsanto was fully aware of the potential of glyphosate to
> cause cancer in mammals as long ago as 1981.
>
[][]Two replies[][]

Subject: Re: [SANET-MG] Fw: [permaculture] Monsanto knew of glyphosate /
cancer link 35 years ago | GM-Free Cymru Special Report | gmfreecymru.org
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 01:14:46 -0500
From: Frank Schultz <wb5ayy@AIRCANOPY.NET>
Reply-To: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group <
SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>, Frank Schultz <wb5ayy@AIRCANOPY.NET>
To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU

It gets more interesting than that:

Glyphosate, together with many other herbicides, is extremely spray-water
pH-sensitive.  Water in much of the country tends to be hard - and due to
the falling aquifers, it is getting harder.  As a powerful chelator, much of
glyphosate's effectiveness can be consumed in chelating hard water minerals
(metal compounds).  The target spray water pH for glyphosate is around 5.0,
but nowhere on the label is that mentioned.  There is only mention that up
to 18# of AS/100 gallons of water can be used.  This writer has moderately
hard water and tried the AS trick one time with no significant change in
spray mix pH.

The boys around here typically use one quart per acre.  There are areas
where many quarts per acre are applied.  If a farmer complains that his
glyphosate is not working, the stock answer from the co-op is, "use (buy)
more".

This writer typically applies 1/2 pint per acre with a sugar to accelerate
plant uptake - after correcting water pH.  I use acetic acid as it does not
appreciably add elements to soil chemistry.  Citric or sulfuric acid may
also be used.  However, with the latter, S is added to the soil - which may
or may not be desirable.

Under ideal circumstances (bright sun and warm), the weeds start turning
grey the day after application and are completely dead within a few days.
Important, if you're fighting the weather or a deadline.

Of course, the glyphosate proponents say that under-applying (less than the
label rate) glyphosate promotes glyphosate-resistant weeds.  Were I making
or selling it, I'd say the same thing.  You don't make more money by selling
less - especially at least 75-percent less.

Well, it is being applied at, or above label rate by most growers.  Do we
not still hear of glyphosate-resistant weeds?

Perhaps more interestingly, there are at least 700 manufacturers of
glyphosate, globally.  The non-Monsanto manufacturers, particularly in
third-world countries may not use chemically-inert (stainless steel) vessels
for manufacture, but lead or bronze ones.  This can introduce a nice dose of
heavy metals to an already problematic product.  On the "off-brand"
container I have, nowhere could I find the country of origin.

But there's more: As about as early as 1984, it was discovered that RR crops
were/are nutrient-deficient.  Understandable, as glyphosate kills by
chelating many metal compounds within the plant (making them
unavailable/lacking) - but RR crops are able to survive this - even though
they are nutrient-deficient.  Maybe explains why RR crops are prone to
disease and insect pressures - and how it could be said that junk food is
being grown in the field - any other issues aside.

By the way, glyphosate tends to decimate soil biology.  The only reason I
use it (to the exclusion of all other herbicides) is that my microbial soil
inoculant grower has a pre- and post-application remediation plan.  He has
few for the other herbicides.  He tells me that cocktails of herbicides are
particularly destructive to soil biology - with very long-term effects.

This monologue is based upon my personal experience and what I've been told
by those in the manufacturing end of the ag industry.  Do with it as ye
shall.

In case you're wondering, I wouldn't eat the stuff I grow with your mouth.
Hopefully, it all ends up as ethanol or plastic...

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when
his salary depends on his not understanding it.”  -Upton Sinclair (thanks to
M.A.)

Ever joy.

F-

[][]And[][]

------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Re: [SANET-MG] Fw: [permaculture] Monsanto knew of glyphosate /
cancer link 35 years ago | GM-Free Cymru Special Report | gmfreecymru.org
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 10:28:52 -0500
From: Malcolm McCallum <malcolm.mccallum.tamut@GMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group <
SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>, Malcolm McCallum <
malcolm.mccallum.tamut@GMAIL.COM>
To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU

Surface water is typically hard....

Except where acid rain has exhausted the buffering capacity of the soil.
IN one major region, I collected data on surface water pH of temporary
ponds where amphibians breed, and despite almost all of it having pH > 8.0
in the 1980s, its pH in the 2000s was below 6 on average and often below
5.  I need to publish these results. :(

M
-- 
Lawrence F. London
lfljvenaura@gmail.com
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