Tag: Roundup and wheat

Interesting Information:  April 30, 2012

Using Roundup to Ripen Wheat

Keith Lewis is a wheat farmer.

The May/June 2012 WELL BEING JOURNAL carried the following quote from Keith Lewis, which apparently appeared in a new book by William Davis, M.D., WHEAT BELLY.

“I have been a wheat farmer for 50  years and one wheat production practice that is very common is applying the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate) just prior to harvest.  Roundup is licensed for pre-harvest weed control.  Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, claims that application to plants at over 30% kernel moisture results in Roundup uptake by the plant into the kernels.  Farmers like this practice because Roundup kills the wheat plant, allowing an earlier harvest.

A wheat field often ripens unevenly, thus applying Roundup pre-harvest evens up the greener parts of the field with the more mature.  The result is that on the less mature areas, Roundup is trans-located into the kernels….This practice is not licensed.  Farmers mistakenly call it `dessication.’

Consumers eating products made from wheat flour are undoubtedly consuming minute amounts of Roundup.  An interesting aside:  malt barley, which is made into beer, is not acceptable in the market place if it has been sprayed with pre-harvest Roundup.  Lentils and peas are not accepted in the marketplace if they are sprayed with pre-harvest Roundup, but it’s ok on wheat?  This farming practice concerns me and it should further concern consumers of wheat products.”

Roundup, or glyphosate, now has enough of a track record to warrant serious consideration of withdrawing it from the market–if only our regulatory agencies had laws with more teeth and weren’t so staffed by “foxes in the hen-house” folks.

And, we are learning that very small amounts of toxic chemicals can have a BIG impact.  You have only to take seriously the autism rates posted on this blog last week to see that.

So, it’s a fact that if you eat commercial wheat, you’re going to be eating–or feeding your children–a certain amount of a very toxic chemical.

Eat organic!

Of course, you know I’ve ordered WHEAT BELLY to read…