Video Summary - 224: The Truth About Glyphosate, with Andre Giles

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons conveyed

Purpose of the episode: Sue Becker (host) and Andre Giles (guest) discuss “the truth” about glyphosate use related to wheat farming, aiming to correct what they see as misinformation circulating online.
Key distinction being made: Glyphosate practices that exist for crops like corn and soybeans are not the same as wheat.
Central claim about wheat: According to Andre Giles:
- There is no commercially approved “Roundup Ready” GMO wheat in the market (they state USDA/FDA have not approved it).
- Glyphosate is generally not used to keep wheat growing during the growing season, and wheat farmers in Montana do not typically use glyphosate to terminate wheat right before harvest.
Origin of the controversy: The host suggests a Canadian publication/social media narratives sparked widespread fear; Andre agrees the online claims have been amplified and are often misleading.

Glyphosate residue in wheat is framed as potentially coming from spraying the ground during summer fallow (not from “spraying the crop during growth”).
Andre adds that in some Canadian provinces (e.g., Ontario and Quebec), glyphosate can be used to terminate wheat, which could influence residue concerns—though he argues US practices are commonly misunderstood.

Sue reads a Canadian-quoted claim that US wheat harvest protocol includes drenching fields with Roundup 7–10 days before combining to speed/dry harvest.
Andre calls this claim misleading and “absolutely false,” stating that in Montana he knows no cases where glyphosate was used to terminate crops for earlier harvest—even in wetter years.
He argues glyphosate works by requiring green leaves, and as wheat ripens it naturally turns brown; therefore spraying to speed harvest by 7–10 days is not typical.

When crops need to be handled quickly (often due to logistics/custom cutters), Andre says farmers more commonly use mechanical methods, such as swathing (cutting and windrowing with specialized equipment), rather than herbicide application.

Andre says glyphosate is a prohibited substance in organic systems; using it would threaten certification and is treated as unlawful (he argues it would be discovered quickly and would not be tolerated).

Andre distinguishes between:
- Strict certifying logos, versus
- Vague marketing claims like “glyphosate free.”
He suggests that “glyphosate free/harvested without glyphosate” can be ambiguous unless you know the testing standard and what it measures.
He offers a practical analogy: even very low parts-per-billion amounts can be framed as trivial relative to other legal limits, while still leaving questions about what the label truly guarantees.
He highlights that some stricter glyphosate-free claims may relate to commodities like oats, where glyphosate might be present on parts removed before human consumption (e.g., “hull/off” the edible portion).

When uncertain, the host’s guidance is to buy organic and avoid glyphosate—positioned as the safest approach.
The episode also emphasizes respecting farmers and avoiding demonizing them, while still acknowledging glyphosate is a concern.

How to evaluate glyphosate-related claims:
- Verify whether the claim is about wheat-specific practices (not corn/soy practices).
- Distinguish between:
  - Spraying during summer fallow (ground application) vs.
  - Claims about spraying the wheat crop itself, especially 7–10 days pre-harvest.
- Treat broad internet assertions as potentially unreliable if they:
  - Misrepresent local agricultural reality,
  - Confuse different regions/cropping systems (US vs. Canadian termination practices),
  - Provide no credible evidence tied to actual wheat harvest protocols.
How to interpret “glyphosate-free” product labels:
- Prefer products that use specific, strict third-party certification/logos rather than generic wording.
- Ask what “glyphosate free” actually means in terms of:
  - Testing threshold limits (ppb vs ppm),
  - What part of the grain/commodity is tested (whole grain vs edible fraction),
  - Whether the claim refers to harvest practices or measured residues.
Practical consumer guidance stated:
- Buy organic if you want to minimize exposure and avoid ambiguity from labels and misinformation.
Practical counter to myths (as described):
- To debunk “spray-at-harvest” rumors, Andre argues people should observe wheat harvest operations in person (for example, visit Montana during harvest), since the described behavior online is characterized as an urban legend.

Sue Becker — Host; “Sue’s Healthy Minutes” (Bread Beckers).
Andre Giles — Wheat farmer; owns/operates a grain cleaning facility and elevator in Fort Benton, Montana; sole US agent for Kamut brand grain.
Monsanto — Referenced as the original patent-holder for glyphosate/brand context and related herbicide/seed system history.
USDA / FDA — Referenced regarding lack of approval for Roundup Ready GMO wheat.
Ardent Mills — Referenced as a major flour miller that allegedly has contracts not to accept Roundup Ready wheat.
Canadian publication / Canadian article (unnamed) — Referenced as the source quoted that claims pre-harvest Roundup “drenching” is routine.
The internet/social media influencers — Referenced generally as amplifying claims (no specific individual named).
Third-party certification agencies / logos (unnamed) — Referenced generally regarding “glyphosate-free” labeling.