Photo: Dandelions, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
Commentary: Concerns about the use of herbicides:
Commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, October 2020.
When I began my review of the research on the use of herbicides, I was hopeful that I would have good news, that herbicide use has not compromised the environment or health, that the expense put into using herbicides is justified. Unfortunately, I was not able to conclude that all is well in the world of agrochemicals. This is unfortunate because invasive species have cost the agricultural industries millions and millions of dollars. Here are my concerns about herbicide use:
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Commentary: Concerns about the use of herbicides:
Commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, October 2020.
When I began my review of the research on the use of herbicides, I was hopeful that I would have good news, that herbicide use has not compromised the environment or health, that the expense put into using herbicides is justified. Unfortunately, I was not able to conclude that all is well in the world of agrochemicals. This is unfortunate because invasive species have cost the agricultural industries millions and millions of dollars. Here are my concerns about herbicide use:
- Not enough research is being conducted on any aspect of herbicide use.
- Most of the research on herbicides and pesticides is funded by the petrochemical industries, thus posing the potential for conflict of interest.
- We don’t know what new problems herbicides that are broadcast over entire fields are creating within crops.
- We don’t know to what extent herbicides are creating problems for native plant species, for wildlife, or for livestock.
- New herbicides are constantly being created, making it even more challenging to carry out research on their impacts.
- The petrochemical industries have, over the past 30 years, merged to the extent that there are now very few small chemical companies remaining.
- Overuse of herbicides has resulted in herbicide-resistant invasive species, which then become an even greater challenge to control.
Next Sections on Managing Invasive Plants:
To return to previous sections on Herbicides & other Pesticides: