When it comes to chemical weed control, 2,4-D has been the go-to chemical for targeting broadleaf weeds for over 60 years. It is widely used in agriculture, golf courses, sports turf, parks, and home lawns. I must admit that I use a product containing 2,4-D in limited quantities as a spot spray treatment of broadleaf weeds.
Despite it's effectiveness as a broadleaf weed killer, 2,4-D has also been accused of being responsible for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental effects, as well as water contamination and toxicity to aquatic organisms.
The truth probably lies somewhere between the moneyed lobbying of multi-national chemical companies and the slightly over-zealous environmental groups. I prefer to not take one side or the other. I consider myself quite environmentally aware, however, I believe that chemical weed control has a place when used properly and in conjunction with an Integrated Pest Management program. I also believe that chemical pesticides should be restricted use, available only to licensed applicators.
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Read more about 2,4-D controversy here:
Comments
2-4-D better known in a slightly different form as Agent Orange is a highly effective herbicide and highly toxic to vegetables. Worst it can drift several miles and still cause damage, even in calm wind. We lost approximately 25 acres of cabbage one year because the county maintenance crew applied 2-4-D to ditches adjoining the road and farm. They never paid for the damage. However, the state of Florida has tight regulations and fines resulting from any damages due to 2-4-D and the Department of Agriculture did take measures. Unfortunately you can buy it every where and people unfamiliar with how to apply it could unknowingly wipe your vegetable garden even if they live several block away.
What a horrible story about the loss of your crop. 2,4-D should most definitely be a restricted use pesticide. Not just in some states, but everywhere.
Should it be banned entirely? I don’t know. Groundskeepers and homeowners could probably get by without it but, could the agricultural industry?
Wow, I had no idea certain herbicides were that harmful. My buddy’s work uses that them a lot but they’re doing the whole “go green,” “keep the air safe!’ route so I’ll have to let him know about this. Great article!
Just to clear the record, LV formulations have very low volatility. We used to have problems with a garden about 150 yds from the application. With the LV, I wouldn’t hesitate to apply within a few feet of my garden.
Dominique, where do you get off linking 2,4-D and Agent Orange? Wow, do you believe the sky is falling too? With your degree in chemistry why on earth are you farming?
@ Mike:
Check this link out:
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/24d-captan/24d-ext.html
^ “2,4-D was a major component (about 50%) of the product Agent Orange used extensively throughout Vietnam. “
@ Mike
Do your research before you flame. There are MANY farmers with degrees. Farming isn’t rocket science, but farming for profit is probably harder.
@ Kelly B.
Thanks for the great article and link to the IPM.
if you took it off the shelf-would it be
replaced with something more dangerous ,less effective ,or more exspensive?2-4d is very cheap,and very effective in a notill preplant corn or bean burn down situation,if one cannot control early and cheap ,and effectivly,you’ll have less acres notilled-which means more soil erosion! it can be used after corn has brown silked to limit weed preasure for next year also!A small amount bought at the store many times is over appllied-8-16 oz per acre kills 43560 square ft. that is why i think many people mis apply -make them take the test like we that farm so they apply it correctly and pay the $20 to be a private pesticide applicator or they can’t apply it-or one might say over apply it!also I have a neighbor that ran a 60 ‘ high clearance no cab sprayer,20000 acres per yr for 45 years and he has no health problems that is why just about anyone can get their hands on it-it is not labeled DANGER. or CAUTION and it is not a restricted use herbicide!
I don’t mean this as purely an insult, but maybe if you bothered to bend down and pick your weeds out of the ground (like most of us did in the 70’s, 80’s and earlier), you’d lose some of that obvious weight. I’m so sick of lazy, out of shape people justifying the poisoning of us, our environment, and our pets just because they’re lazy slobs.
@Candra
I’m not lazy or out of shape. The majority of 2,4-D use is in agriculture. It was released in 1946 and is the most widely used herbicide in the world. In order to economically harvest yields of crops plentiful enough to feed the world, 2,4-D is an essential tool, especially in crops such as wheat. Would you rather more people died from starvation? Properly applied 2,4-D is safe. I also use it on my lawn.
@others
2,4-D is not Agent Orange. It was an ingredient along with the toxic 2,4,5-T chemical that could be contaminated with TCDD which caused illness, birth defects, etc. 2,4,5-T application in the US ended in 1985.
Read your labels and you won’t grow any extra fingers!
Candra,
I’d like to see you try to hand weed 380 acres or more! Get over yourself and lose the attitude until you get your facts straight. As previously mentioned, 2, 4-d is mainly used in agriculture and that involves a helluva lot more than the run of the mill garden spot or the front lawn.
For the record, commercial use 2, 4-D does require an applicators license. The 2, 4-D that can be purchased at Wal-Mart and other stores is watered down so much that it is pretty much useless.
@ candra
get real!