What Macho Herbicide Names Tell Us About Fighting Weeds (and Ourselves)

Modern Farmer ^ | June 13, 2013 | Rose Garrett

[Rodamala]

In 1970, an organic chemist named John E. Franz was working at Monsanto when he and his team made a remarkable discovery: that synthesizing N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine produced glyphosate, a systemic herbicide that had the potential to rule them all. In 1974, the herbicide hit the market as “Roundup”, and since then the chemical has become the most-used herbicide in American agriculture...

[Rodamala]

Monsanto’s glyphosate patent expired in 2000, and since then dozens of glyphosate formulations have flooded the market, each differentiated by a host of brand names that represent their products with all the subtlety of a monster truck rally.

In a world where things like climate change and herbicide-resistance are taking power from farmers and into the unpredictable hands of the elements, the sense of control — or illusion of control — can mean a lot.

As with the original Roundup, a burly wild west ethos predominates with names like Ranger, Rascal, Rattler, Honcho and Rodeo. Just what do cowboys have to do with killing plants? “They both evoke nature and a kind of ‘do-what-it-takes’ mentality, masculine strength, and determination pitted against nature and outlaws of all kind,” says Laurel Sutton, Principal at Catchword Branding, who points out in the “lawless West” it was the lone rangers (so to speak) who brought order and justice to the land. Sure enough, if you add other herbicides besides glyphosate into the equation, you find the names Lasso, Bronco and Lariat to boot.

Still shopping for the perfect herbicide name? Try out the law and order angle of Prosecutor and JuryR or the military tinges of Prowl, Stealth and Stinger. And let’s not forget the strange romance of being swept away by Buccaneer, Silhouette, Tango and Escort, which are more reminiscent of Harlequin titles (or condoms) than weed killers.

Why all the brawn and bluster? “Names like these that use metaphors or evocative language are a good way to get at unpleasant concepts like killing and death in a less offensive way,” says Sutton. “They definitely convey an independent American feeling — they’re tough, but not in a bloody or violent way.”

(snip)

[factoryrat]

Monsanto will single-handedly destroy agriculture in North America, and will profit handsomely while doing it. And they will have the gratitude of the US government and their vested interests for doing so. See zimbabwe, ethiopia, south africa, soviet era russia, china, and every other despot run third world shithole as an example.

Those who control the food, control the country. Famine is a powerful weapon.

[Texas Fossil]

Monsanto will single-handedly destroy agriculture in North America

No, International Agriculture Corporations are in the process of destroying North American Agriculture. They have lots of help from anti-competition laws and corporations. Both on the technology and marketing sides of AG production.

[elcid1970]

I guess the gunfighter image in the herbicide ads has to do with pointing a `weapon’, firing, and causing death.

Believe the goal is to sell herbicide. And most husbands would rather handle the weedkilling task involving HAZMAT by themselves, than leave that for their wives to do.

[dainbramaged]

White vinegar is an excellent herbicide.

[MarMema]

Monsanto will single-handedly destroy agriculture in North America, and will profit handsomely while doing it.

They are sure trying but there are lots of people waking up. Thanks for the post!

[verga]

Bttt

[Cyber Liberty]

Wow! "Macho-sounding" names sells product to men! Who'd athunk it?

Here's a comment from the article:

prasad • a day ago

If you want to make an argument about farming practices, and why smothering fields with herbicide to control all weeds is dangerous, *please* do so. Overuse of such substances is a serious issue. But do so honestly, with scientific arguments and facts. Not with silly sneering and innuendo about SUVs, action films and testosterone (or chick flicks and sleepovers for that matter.) This is no way to decide what responsible farming looks like, or which substances are safe in what doses. What next? Reciting humorous drug names to figure out proper antibiotic use?

2 2 • Reply • Share ›

[GraceG]

Monsanto is what happens when you get a state sponsored monopoly...

The farm bill(s) only feeds the individual farmers chicken feed while Big State Sponsored Agribusinesses like Monsanto get all sorts of slop shoved into their troughs.

Meanwhile Medium and small sized LOCAL agribusinesses get ran out of business or are gobbled up BY Monsanto and other state sponsored “Big-Agro”.

Remember what John D Rockefeller said: “Competition is a sin”

It is all part of a game the big boys play with government to keep the upstart medium and median-large upstarts at arms length so they can continue their hold on power.

If they were solely using good business practices and good products and delivering a customer’s needs to stay #1 that is an admirable thing. If they are are using collusion with the government to keep their competition at bay and poisoning the seeds of entrepreneurship through regulations that they have lobbied for.

Then that is simple treason against the free market system.

[Flick Lives]

Macho names for herbicides? what sort of names would the author prefer?

- Strongly Worded Letter

- Raised Voice

- Verbal Warning

- Cajole

- Persuade

[dfwgator]

[Rodamala]

[Cyber Liberty]

Do they sell that at Fuddruckers?

[elcid1970]

That’s sick!

[21twelve]

“- Persuade”

Reminds me of a truck I saw years ago with the name of the company on the side:

Adequate Fire Protection Services.

[PIF]

Former Klean Up user - cat pee

Former Ranger Pro user - Stronger cat pee

Current Round Up Pro Max user - works as advertised

[Cyber Liberty]

Current Round Up Pro Max user - works as advertised

Yes, it does.

[Flick Lives]

LOL!

[eartrumpet]

Last year we tossed a few goats in the back field to eat weeds. We soon had a lovely grass field with no weeds. One day the lady who sprays noxious weeds for the county was parked back there taking pictures of the field. But that won’t work in most crops.

[RegulatorCountry]

Well, in the spirit of alpha-maternalism for which the author seems to long, I’d like to suggest a few names for herbicide, of which she will no doubt approve:

Planned Weedhood

Arbortion

Gro-Choice

Herbal Hygiene

Hillary!