[MPWG] Question of the month: Invasives removal amidst harvestable medicinals
Michael McGuffin
MMcguffin at ahpa.org
Wed Jul 7 16:10:19 CDT 2004
...a tardy comment:
The message below states, "Because 2% glyphosate is biodegradable, with
a half-life of 25 days, it has been used by organic farmers."
The problem with this is that the use of glyphosate is not allowed on a
farm that wishes to maintain status as an organic farm nor do
agricultural products produced on such a farm meet the definition of an
organic product. USDA has commented on the relevance of the organic
regulations to marketing wild harvested ingredients as organic, for example:
A wild crop that is to be sold, labeled, or represented as "100
percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (specified
ingredients or food group(s))" must be harvested from a designated
area that has had no prohibited substances applied to it for a
period of 3 years immediately preceding the harvest of the wild
crop. The wild crop must also be harvested in a manner that ensures
such harvesting or gathering will not be destructive to the
environment and will sustain the growth and production of the wild
crop. (Federal Register, Dec, 21, 2000, page 80560).
The regulations also state that, in order for a product to be sold as
organic it must be produced and handled without the use of any synthetic
substance (which would include glyphosate) unless it has been
specifically listed in the regulations as allowed for use in organic
crop production (which glyphosate is not). The only herbicides that are
allowed are are "soap-based herbicides," and there use is limited to
"use in farmstead maintenance (roadways, ditches, right of ways,
building perimeters) and ornamental crops."
Michael McGuffin
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov wrote:
>Here's the first installment of what I hope will be a regular monthly
>affair - The Question of the Month. This month's question came about as a
>result of questions from you - the MPWG listserve!
>
>The Question:
>When plant invasions are beyond mechanical means of control (i.e. hand
>pulling), are there any chemical methods of control that can be used and
>still allow one to continue to harvest medicinals (or other plants for
>human consumption) or, better yet, to retain "organic" status?
>
>An Answer:
>You may recall recent e-mails over the MPWG listserve regarding Japanese
>Stilt Grass (JSG). Here is a summary of the information that was provided
>in that discussion.
>
> According to Marc Imlay (the Vice-President of the Maryland Native Plant
> Society and member of our sister working group the Alien Plant Working
> Group, with extensive experience in integrated pest management (IPM)),
> once an invasion is beyond control by mechanical means, 2% glyphosate
> (a.k.a is Roundup) is an alternative. Because 2% glyphosate is
> biodegradable, with a half-life of 25 days, it has been used by organic
> farmers. Following, is a brief discussion of Marc's observations and
> strategies in invasives removal using 2% gylphosate.
>
> Case Study: Japanese Stilt Grass
> Once mechanical means have been exhusted, "JSG is relatively easy to
> control. It is extremely sensitive to glyphosate, for example. We
> apply 2% glyphosate with virtually no impact on native plants because we
> use our solo 3 gallon backpack sprayer very slowly. We do not linger on
> each plant but we go very slowly and avoid the natives very easily
> (spray-to-glisten). Used this way, the chiemical does not migrate, and
> it biodegrades quickly. Most of the seed bank is gone by the third year
> and hand pulling becomes appropriate."
>
> Eradication in action?
> This excerpt is from actual field notes taken at an invasive eradication
> site.
>
> Japanese stilt grass - Microstegium vimineum
>
> Method. In areas where the stiltgrass had formed a monoculture, we
> used a 2% solution of RoundUp applied with a back pack sprayer, Used
> this way, RoundUp does not migrate, and it biodegrades quickly. Where
> the stiltgrass plants were mixed with native plants or adjacent to
> wetlands (about 5% of the population), volunteers hand-pulled the
> stiltgrass. We apply 2 % glyphosate with virtually no impact on
> native plants because we use our solo 3 gallon backpack sprayer very
> slowly. We do not linger on each plant but we go very slowly and
> avoid the natives very easily (spray-to-glisten). Sprayers are
> taught to recognize native plants first. We control stiltgrass before
> seed is produced and check the following year for results in May or
> June, as opposed to August or September, because individual stems
> will grow to expand into the available space and Japanese stilt grass
> reqrowth from the seed bank will appear to be more extensive than is
> actually the case.
>
>Summary:
>This is not intended to be THE solution - it is an approach to the problem.
>Before beginning any eradication program, please educate yourself about the
>"problem" and the options. Learn about the invasive species in question.
>Connect with local expertise. Understand the ecosystem in which you are
>working. Get information on the variety of control mechanisms that are at
>your disposal and the effect that they have on the ecosystem. Here are
>some links to get you started...
>
>
>Alien Plant Working Group (APWG) Website at: www.nps.gov/plants/alien
>
>
> Part of the Plant Conservation Alliance, APWG's site provides
> information for the general public, land managers, researchers, and
> others on the serious threat and impacts of invasive alien (exotic,
> non-native) plants to the native flora, fauna, and natural
> ecosystems of the United States. Their "Weeds Gone Wild: Alien
> Plant Invaders of Natural Areas" provides a compiled national list
> of invasive plants infesting natural areas throughout the U.S.,
> background information on the problem of invasive species,
> illustrated fact sheets that include plant descriptions, native
> range, distribution and habitat in the U.S., management options,
> suggested alternative native plants, and other information, and
> selected links to relevant people and organizations. Check out the
> Fact Sheet on Japanese Stilt Grass at:
> http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/mivi1.htm
> Ways to get involved in APWG!
> write an invasives fact sheet (
> http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/list/authorinfo.htm), or
> join their listserve (
> http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/maillist.htm)
>
>
>
>
>The IUCN-Invasive Species Specialist Group at: www.invasives.org
>
> The Invasive Species Specialist
> Group (ISSG) is part of the
> Species Survival Commission (SSC)
> of The World Conservation Union
> (IUCN). The ISSG is a global
> group of 146 scientific and
> policy experts on invasive
> species from 41 countries.
> Membership is by invitation from
> the group chair, but everyone's
> participation in the discussion
> on invasives is encouraged. In
> addition, to its headquarters in
> Auckland, New Zealand, ISSG has
> three regional sections in North
> America, Europe, and South Asia.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Restoration Working Group (RWG) Website at: www.nps.gov/plants/restore
>
> The mission of the Plant Conservation Alliance's Restoration Working
> Group (RWG) is to facilitate the implementation of numerous successful
> restoration projects throughout the country. RWG has developed action
> items in the areas of Federal Policies and Guidelines, Funding,
> Research, Resources, Prevention, and Public Outreach.
>
>
> National Park Service Exotic Plant Management
> Teams at: www.nature.nps.gov/biology/invasive
> species/
>
>
> Exotic plants infest approximately 2.6
> million acres in the national parks.
> Invasive animals are affecting 234 parks.
> "Control of exotic species is one of the
> most significant land management issues
> facing national parks." Seventeen Exotic
> Plant Mangement Teams have been deployed
> throughout the U.S. to combat exotic plant
> invasions in the national park system.
>
>
> Native Plant Societies at:
> michbotclub.org/links/native_plant_society.htm
>
>
>
>
> Native plant societies are a great source of information and volunteers
> (for pulls). This link provides a pretty comprehensive list of Native
> Plant Societies in the U.S. and Canada. Join one near you!
>
>
>Glyphosate Fact Sheets:
>
>
> Environmental Protection Agency Consumer Factsheet on GLYPHOSATE
>
>
>
>www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/dw_contamfs/glyphosa.html
>
>
> Glyphosate Pesticide Fact Sheet Prepared for the U.S. Department of
> Agriculture, Forest Service by Information Ventures, Inc.
>infoventures.com/e-hlth/pestcide/glyphos.html
>
>
>Send me your ideas!
>Please send me any suggestions for future topics - be sure to indicate
>whether you can actually assist in "investigating" the topic. Topics
>should relate to native medicinals (with some leeway) and should be
>thought-provoking and, at the very least, informative! We have an idea in
>mind for August - otherwise, the calendar is wide open. Send ideas to
><Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov>.
>
>- - - - -
>
>Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
>Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
>Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
>US Fish & Wildlife Service
>4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
>Arlington, VA 22203
>703-358-1708 x1753
>FAX: 703-358-2276
>Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
>resources.
><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>Disclaimer
>Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.
>
>
>
--
Michael McGuffin, President
American Herbal Products Association
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 370
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone 301-588-1171 x 201
Fax 301-588-1174
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