It was reported in this paper on June 24 that Eversource Energy is planning to spray a glyphosate-based herbicide, Rodeo, in 30 western Massachusetts communities, including Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Hadley, South Hadley and many others.

Glyphosate is a primary ingredient in popular weedkillers including Roundup, Rodeo and many others; it is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Glyphosate is also patented as an antibiotic and should be classified as a biocide because it harms all life forms.

While Eversource’s “Integrated Vegetation Management Program” apparently meets approval of the Department of Agricultural Resources, glyphosate’s extensive negative effects on human and environmental health (including contributing to the climate crisis) renders the program totally unacceptable.

Alternatives to spraying include hand-pulling, digging, weed-whacking, use of goats, organic regenerative agricultural practices, and limited application of ecologically acceptable chemicals such as herbicidal formulations of acetic acid.

The official justification often given for spraying herbicides is “to meet emergency situations.” An “emergency” weed situation cannot be imagined. That is, if vegetation management staff are monitoring on a regular basis (best horticultural practices) and find an undesirable plant species, they should remove it physically.

Only if regular maintenance is ignored could a situation become particularly challenging. That said, poor management practices must not justify applying a glyphosate-based herbicide.

Perhaps the creators of such programs were overly influenced by low budget sci-fi films such as “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes?” Eversource and associated organizations need to become more informed on what chemicals are being applied to lands under their purview and the effects therein on people, birds, wildlife, insects (including valuable pollinator species), soil microbes, and other non-target organisms. Contamination of water resources must always be avoided.

In order to stop spraying of this killer chemical, I hope readers will protest to their municipal government administration, board of health, conservation commission and state senators and representatives.

 Dr. Stephen Frantz

South Hadley

The writer is a research pathobiologist who lives in South Hadley.