Latest news with #weedkiller
E&E News
24-07-2025
- Health
- E&E News
EPA proposes approval for cancer-linked weedkiller
EPA has proposed use of the weedkiller dicamba for certain soybean and cotton crops, the agency announced Wednesday while also dismissing concerns about human exposure to the cancer-linked herbicide. The agency wants to allow use of three dicamba products to control herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds and released draft environmental and human health assessments on the weedkiller. 'These new products would give farmers an additional tool to help manage crops and increase yields in order to provide a healthy and affordable food supply for our country,' the agency wrote in its release. Advertisement EPA said last year it would consider an application from Bayer Crop Science, a pesticide producer, to let farmers use dicamba after the agency partially banned the product. Use of dicamba has been debated due to its tendency to drift and kill crops on neighboring fields.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US EPA moves to approve dicamba weedkiller use on cotton, soybeans
By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed approvals for three products containing the weedkiller dicamba, whose use was halted by a federal court in 2024, arguing it does not pose a significant human health or environmental risk. Cotton and soybean farmers had sprayed dicamba on crops that were genetically engineered to resist the herbicide, which controls tough weeds. Environmental groups have criticized the chemical because it can drift from where it is sprayed and damage neighboring plants. A 2024 U.S. District Court ruling found the EPA previously violated public input procedures in its approval of three dicamba products, and vacated the product registrations. As a result, farmers were unable to spray dicamba on crops this year. The EPA has received applications from Bayer AG, BASF and Syngenta for new approvals, the agency said in regulatory documents. Bayer, which sold the dicamba herbicide XtendiMax, said it was pleased the EPA opened a public comment period on its proposal to approve dicamba usage. "We are confident that low-volatility dicamba herbicides, when used according to the label, can be used safely and successfully on-target," Bayer said. BASF said it would work with regulators to ensure farmers can use dicamba. Syngenta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An EPA review found no risk to human health from the products, but some risk to certain plants, it said in a release. To mitigate that risk, the agency is proposing restrictions on how much of the chemical can be applied and when, the release said. The top pesticides official at the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Kyle Kunkler, previously worked as a lobbyist for the American Soybean Association, which has supported allowing farmers to spray dicamba on soybeans. The association said it was reviewing the EPA's proposal and that dicamba is a critical tool for farmers.
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US EPA moves to approve dicamba weedkiller use on cotton, soybeans
WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed approvals for three products containing the weedkiller dicamba, whose use was halted by a federal court in 2024, arguing it does not pose a significant human health or environmental risk. Cotton and soybean farmers had sprayed dicamba on crops that were genetically engineered to resist the herbicide, which controls tough weeds. Environmental groups have criticized the chemical because it can drift from where it is sprayed and damage neighboring plants. A 2024 U.S. District Court ruling found the EPA previously violated public input procedures in its approval of three dicamba products, and vacated the product registrations. As a result, farmers were unable to spray dicamba on crops this year. The EPA has received applications from Bayer AG ( opens new tab, BASF and Syngenta for new approvals, the agency said in regulatory documents. Bayer, which sold the dicamba herbicide XtendiMax, said it was pleased the EPA opened a public comment period on its proposal to approve dicamba usage. "We are confident that low-volatility dicamba herbicides, when used according to the label, can be used safely and successfully on-target," Bayer said. BASF said it would work with regulators to ensure farmers can use dicamba. Syngenta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An EPA review found no risk to human health from the products, but some risk to certain plants, it said in a release. To mitigate that risk, the agency is proposing restrictions on how much of the chemical can be applied and when, the release said. The top pesticides official at the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Kyle Kunkler, previously worked as a lobbyist for the American Soybean Association, which has supported allowing farmers to spray dicamba on soybeans. The association said it was reviewing the EPA's proposal and that dicamba is a critical tool for farmers.
The Sun
21-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Bamboo was taking over my garden & had me fearing for my house – until a cheap buy from The Range got rid of it for good
A FED-UP gardener has revealed how she finally managed to wipe out a monster bamboo infestation using a budget buy from The Range. Posting in the Gardening on a Budget Official Facebook group, one frustrated woman explained how her partner's garden had been completely overrun by bamboo. 2 She described it as 'solid' ground and saying 'there's so much of it' they didn't know where to start. But thankfully, green-fingered Brits rallied around to offer tried-and-tested advice and one product kept cropping up as the miracle fix. Gardeners recommended the Roundup Tree Stump and Root Killer, which retails at £18.99 from The Range. The powerful weedkiller is specially designed to target tough, woody plants and it seems bamboo doesn't stand a chance. One user swore by the stuff, commenting: 'I used this on mine. It took a few months, but it's gone and never came back.' Another backed it up, adding: 'It's brilliant stuff. The Roundup kills it – best time is when it stops growing in October or November.' The product's official description says it's a 'non-selective, translocated weedkiller ' that travels throughout the plant and root system. It tackles everything from tree stumps to nettles, ivy and invasive bamboo. It's absorbed by leaves or freshly cut surfaces and works both above and below ground. Once it hits the soil, microbes break it down, meaning it's safe to replant in treated areas. 6 Reasons Bamboo May Not Be Ideal for Your British Garden And for gardeners dealing with full-blown bamboo battles, this stuff might just be the saviour. One poor user shared: 'I get invaded by my neighbour's bamboo, it's a menace. "My garden is tiered because of sloping, and the roots even disturbed and knocked off the boards on the bottom tier.' She revealed the stubborn plant caused 'numerous shoots coming up on my lawn', adding: 'It took weeks. I still get the odd shoot popping up and as soon as I see it, I'm on it.' Others chimed in with more DIY hack s, including repeatedly pouring boiling water over shoots to kill them off, though most agreed that Roundup offered a long-term fix with minimal fuss. With its ability to take down even notorious intruders like Japanese knotweed, the weedkiller has gained a bit of a cult following among gardeners desperate to reclaim their lawns. So if bamboo is creeping into your space and boiling water just won't cut it, this £18.99 could be the price of peace and quiet in your garden. As one user put it: 'It's the only thing that worked and trust me, I tried everything.' How to prevent bamboo from taking over your garden For those that are still tempted to add bamboo to their garden, there is a way that you can make it more manageable and reduce the risk of it taking over your flowerbeds. Rather than simply planting a smaller patch, green-fingered influencer Dave The Plant Man suggests putting down a plastic root barrier to prevent it from spreading. In a recent Instagram reel, he advised his followers: 'Basically, you dig a trench [and] you put this [the bamboo barrier], leave it sticking out a little bit.' According to the gardening whizz, this will stop any shoots and rhizomes from spreading through the soil. If you already have a bamboo plant in your garden, you can also use the same method by placing the plastic barrier around your existing patch. How to get rid of invasive bamboo IF you have a bamboo that has got out of hand, you may wish to eradicate it completely. RHS recommends two methods of removal: Cultural control Non-chemical methods involve digging out clumps of bamboo and restricting the size. This can be difficult with very large plants, or on heavy soil. Use a sharp spade to dig up the entire clump or to remove sections from the edge of the clump that have grown beyond the limits. Sever rhizomes as you go, lifting and removing them with a fork or trowel. Weedkiller control When invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity and gardeners struggle to control them with cultural methods, targeted use of regulated weedkillers may be an option. Garden centres and large retailers selling weedkillers have trained staff who can advise on suitable products for your needs.
