Weed seeds continue their expansion by hitching rides on cars, clothes, camping equipment, boats, and livestock. They can and have destroyed entire ecosystems. They also contribute significantly to the degradation of our rivers, fisheries and soil because weeds do not prevent erosion as effectively as natural flora. The Nature Conservancy, an environmental organization which preserves habitats and wildlife by buying lands and waters, recognizes the threat weeds pose to their conservation efforts and now uses herbicides on the lands it manages. Unfortunately, few other environmental organizations are interested in the issue of weed control.
Herbicides are a crucial tool in our efforts to control weeds.
For example, the chemical Tralkoxydim, from which Canadian wheat growers have reaped the benefits for the past six years, has been found to be highly effective in the fight against invasive weeds such as wild oats and pigeongrass. Wheat farmers in America s Northern Plains face the same problems as the Canadians, but have been denied use this production tool. In 1996, Congress passed the FQPA to establish a uniform safety standard for the protection of America s health. The agriculture industry amassed broad support for the final legislation. EPA s methods and approach to implementing the act raises serious questions.