Is it true that glyfosate is sprayed on some wheat field just before harvest to dry the grain?

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Monday, 28/03/2016 15:58

According to the National Wheat Foundation, “glyphosate use in wheat is limited.” They go on to say:

Broadly speaking, glyphosate use is limited in the wheat industry, if even used at all in some wheat fields. In fact, it is applied to less than 30 percent of wheat acres in the U.S., according to an independent consumer research firm, GfK. While farmers of other crops may use glyphosate more in their operations, the application rate and use of glyphosate in wheat is dependent on other production methods, such as no-till and minimum till planting system.

The National Wheat Foundation’s “Truth About Glyphosate” series provides detailed information on glyphosate and how wheat growers use glyphosate.

There are four potential uses for glyphosate in wheat. The third potential use, described and bolded below, directly addresses your question on whether glyphosate is spayed on wheat fields before harvest to dry the grain.

1. Applications before planting, at planting, and after planting but before wheat emergence ensures minimal weed competition as throughout the growing season. This practice is most common in no-till systems.
2. Fallow applications, as mentioned previously, are made following harvest when no crop is present to keep weeds from using precious soil moisture. This is most commonly practiced in the Western United States and semi-arid wheat producing regions.
3. Pre-harvest applications made 7 days or more prior to harvest as a harvest aid to dry green weeds and even the maturity of a wheat crop so that it may be harvested before end of season frosts occur. This is highly uncommon treatment used in less than 2 percent of U.S. wheat acres; however, it can be used to enable a harvest that would otherwise not be possible.
4. “Crop destruct” applications are made to a growing wheat crop when weeds, insects, disease or adverse weather preclude the ability to produce a viable crop. This, of course, results in no harvestable grain.

If you’d like additional information on how wheat growers use glyphosate, check out the National Wheat Foundation’s “Truth About Glyphosate” series:

•  Part 1:  How do Wheat Growers use Glyphosate?              
• Part 2:  Growing a Quality Wheat Crop with Glyphosate            
• Part 3:  How does USDA Collect Farm Data?            
•  Part 4:  Why Does USDA Collect Farm Data?

We also would like to mention that genetically modified or GM wheat is not currently on the market. Some trials have been conducted on the wheat plant to make it resistant to herbicides but these trials are still in the experimental stages. Currently, there are only nine genetically modified crops on the market: corn, cotton, soybeans, sugar beets, papaya, alfalfa, canola, squash and potato. A GM apple has been approved to be grown and will be coming to market. Here’s more information, if you’d like to learn more about the GMOs currently on the market.

If you have any other questions, please ask!