Glyphosate approval

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by noisette47, Oct 18, 2023.

  1. noisette47

    noisette47 Total Gardener

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    I'm not sure what the current situation is in UK re. Glyphosate, but it's turning into a cliffhanger here in France. For a few years it's only been available to farmers and professional gardeners, with a complete ban looming in December this year.
    The EU took a vote of member countries last Friday on a prolongation of use for 10 years, but didn't get the minimum 15 required 'yes' votes. It will be put to another vote in November, ostensibly to allow time for further studies to be, err, studied :biggrin:.
    Apart from the prospect of trying to manage 2 acres of garden (with it's various pernicious weeds) without it, what really, really annoys me is the mis-use of it which has contributed to it's overuse and abuse.
    Farmers are routinely told that they can spray fields and then cultivate or sow a few hours later.
    Then they wonder why weeds like mare's-tail, bindweed and couch grass keep coming back! Obviously, it's in the interests of the agro-chemical companies that they do.
    The given advice in UK back in the day was to treat and leave the weeds for anything up to 6 weeks to ensure that the roots were dead before digging. I've been running a one-woman campaign amongst friends and neighbours for 16 years to try to convince them, to no avail. This gem of misinformation is routinely trotted out by the Press and media whenever Glypho is mentioned.
    Even worse is it's use to kill off crop plants rapidly to enable quicker harvesting :yikes: Happily, that is a practice that will be banned come what may.
    Is it still available in UK? Do you use it and if so, how? Have you tried the 'alternatives' ?
     
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    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      its been banned for public use and no longer on sale here in the UK due to it being linked to cancer ie a case in America proven by the courts ...

      I think but you may have to check the total ban for professions to use ie Councils , Japanese Knotweed companies etc will stop in 2025 UK

      I know councils in the UK may change to a foam based glyphosate so the spay cant be carried by the wind but it costs a lot more to buy ...
      I hope this helps a little
      Spruce
       
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      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        @noisette47 Current approval of glyphosate in the UK runs to 2025.
        As for alternatives I'm not aware of anything as good as glyphosate. Various acetic acid based ones are fairly popular.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          It's still available to purchase and use in the UK
           
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          • Spruce

            Spruce Glad to be back .....

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            Interesting ... none in my local B&Q or garden centres but I do live in Wales so ay be restictions already
             
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            • NigelJ

              NigelJ Total Gardener

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                Last edited: Oct 18, 2023
              • burnie

                burnie Total Gardener

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                I cannot understand why anyone would wish to poison the land to then grow edible crops in, seems like some sort of death wish to me, crop rotation goes a long way to aid good soil management.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  Might be worth getting another gallon, if it out lasts me I can sell it on the black market and make a fortune.:biggrin:
                  I think that is where most people get their info, it doesn't poison the ground it only kills the plants you spray it on and its absorbed through the leaves.:smile:

                  As has been said, misuse is the reason for the ban and over use by farmers, who in their right mind would spray it on something you are going to eat? Only a Farmer would do that.:biggrin:

                  I only use it on areas I'm not using for growing veg and for killing off weeds growing in awkward places, it has done wonders on brambles and ivy in my garden recently.
                  If used sparingly I think its great stuff.
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Miss use is the main problem, that first court case in the USA highlighted how people ignore the very basics of Health and Safety. The groundkeeper got covered in glyphosate by accident. No protective clothing was worn.
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Although I don't use weedkillers I don't see harm in its use on pervasive weeds in non crop areas.

                      It is currently allowed domestically and professionally and some farmers use it on cereal crops to help the crops dry quicker but am not sure about the Health and Safety aspects of that.
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        I do use it occasionally, no where near food crops, usually around difficult to weed areas, like the wire netting fence around my allotment.
                         
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                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                          Yes I was shocked when I first heard about that. It's another good reason to grow your own.
                           
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                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            I'm not good at growing porridge :noidea: :rolleyespink:
                             
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                            • noisette47

                              noisette47 Total Gardener

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                              Here it's pelargonic acid. Folks buy it once (€50/l) before finding out that it doesn't work. It's certainly not systemic.
                               
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                              • pete

                                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                                Listen carefully, I shall say this only once:biggrin:

                                But I have said it before,;) I'd much rather spray with something that works, once, than repeated sprays of something that doesn't:dunno:
                                 
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