On 19/09/2012 17:48, Martin Brown wrote:
On 19/09/2012 17:07, Fuschia wrote:

This is what happens when you rely on GM crops and glyphosate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19585341

Actually it is more what you get if you buy into Monsanto's global
agribusiness monopoly and overuse the same Roundup Ready cash crops
again and again on the same area of land without any rotation break.

It was entirely predictable and was predicted at the outset, but it
didn't stop greedy US farmers from abusing the method aided and abetted
by Monsanto who were delighted to sell both their proprietory seeds and
ever increasing amount of agricultural chemicals.

Similar stupid behaviour occurs elsewhere in the world but this is the
most extreme example. If you only ever use one pesticide you should not
be at all surprised when tolerance builds up over a few years. The only
surprise is more that it has already got out of hand so quickly.

I guess since the patent has now expired on the synthetic route to
glyphosate (LD50 ~5g/kg) they don't mind but it is astonishing to have
to return to something as primitive as 2,4 D (LD50 0.6g/kg).

A WWII era weedkiller and one of the first broadleaf specific ones.

It could be worse - they may well have to use more paraquat too.
(that is an order of magnitude more toxic LD50 0.06g/kg)

Unfortunately Paraquat -- sold as Gramoxone --- has been banned for the
last 3 years or so now