Safe and effective. Oh, wait.
Glyphosate is sprayed on major commodity crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, and sugar beets, often those genetically engineered to resist it, but also on grains like wheat, barley, and oats, where it's used as a pre-harvest desiccant (drying agent). Other crops sprayed include alfalfa, citrus, nuts, fruits, vegetables (like chickpeas for hummus), sugarcane, and various other grains and oilseeds.
Major Crops & Uses:
- Genetically Modified (GM) Crops:
Most heavily used on "Roundup Ready" crops, including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, and sugar beets, engineered to survive glyphosate application, killing surrounding weeds.
- Grains (Wheat, Oats, Barley, Sorghum):
Increasingly sprayed just before harvest to dry them out (desiccation), making them easier and faster to combine.
- Legumes:
Chickpeas (used in hummus), lentils, and dry beans.
- Fruits & Vegetables:
A wide range, including citrus, berries, pome fruits (apples), stone fruits (peaches), nuts, and various brassica/leafy/root vegetables.