Roundup vs Glyphosate?

Golf course superintendents are well familiar with trying to save money. However, what they might not be familiar with is the growing trend of generic brands. Course managers can still produce well-manicured golf courses by purchasing generic or post-patent pesticides.

Based on a recent Golf Course News survey of 400 readers, 59 percent say they buy generic pesticides. Because in general, generic herbicides will always be cheaper than brand ones. Some course managers tout a savings of 10 percent of more by using generic products.
But when something is cheaper, is it as effective?

Well, it is not quite as easy as it looks.

Pesticide suppliers are saying there are more than one factor that goes into buying different product versions. And, there are pros and cons to the generics available on the market.

Here on some suggestions on buying name brand vs. generic pesticides

• Know what you’re buying and how to apply it correctly. Have you used the product successfully in the past?

• If you need technical support, find out what support is offered or available before buying and using the product. The level of product support requires research, such as with branded products. Companies that only sell generic products might not be capable of supporting you as much as companies who produce generics and branded products or just branded products. There are various levels of support to consider: manufacturer, distributor and formulators. Ask the company selling generics if it will provide performance guarantees.

• Cost is an important factor. However, if a product doesn’t perform well and there are no performance guarantees, the result is no monetary savings, and you’ll incur additional costs by having to purchase more product along with the labor costs to reapply. Cost is easy to compare once you understand and compare a product’s active ingredient. The main cost drivers are: quantity of active ingredient in the container as a total percentage and the quality of support from the manufacturer that is going to be offered.

A common myth is that generics don’t perform as well as branded products. However, to receive EPA registration, the active ingredient in generics must have the same technical merit as the current manufacturer branded product. Check the formulation. Sometimes generics are formulated slightly different than the branded product, therefore, you must read the label carefully to make a direct product comparison.

A little research and background knowledge may be the trick for savvy pesticide buyers. Because in the end, the biggest decision operators and superintendents may face is whether or not saving money is really justified.