Why Are Crops Safe From Herbicides?

This week on the Super Smart Farm Show, we're heading out to the fields and getting into the weeds to figure out why herbicides don't harm crops.

Herbicides are chemicals that some farmers use to kill weeds. But here's the thing: Farmers spray herbicides across entire fields, meaning the chemicals are applied to both weeds and crops like corn or soybeans. From there, herbicides do their work and kill off the weeds. But how do the crops stay safe?

Join host Elmer, Cornelia the corn and Marvin the marestail weed as they discuss why herbicides don't kill everything growing in a field—just the weeds.

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This episode of the Super Smart Farm Show answers the question why don't herbicides kill crops along with the weeds? With help from Cornelia the Corn and Marvin the Marestail Weed, kids learn how herbicides work, why farmers carefully choose products that target specific weeds while protecting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat, and how modern crop varieties can tolerate certain herbicides when used correctly. The episode explains the science behind weed control in agriculture, the importance of reducing competition for water, sunlight, and soil nutrients, and introduces the concept of integrated weed management, including crop rotation, cover crops, cultivation, and hand weeding. Packed with fun characters, interactive quizzes, and easy-to-understand explanations, this episode helps children discover how farmers use science and multiple weed-control strategies to grow healthy crops while protecting the food we depend on.