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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEPA Approves Use Of Napalm As Pesticide
Farmers May Now Treat Crops With Aerial Applications Of Fire

According to regulators, the pests that threaten harvests are deterred when great fires rain down from above.
Published: June 12, 2026
SATIRE
WASHINGTONSaying they saw no reason to limit any potential agricultural use of the flammable combination of gelling agents and gasoline, officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved napalm as a pesticide Friday. Following a thorough review, the EPA has found that napalm, with its ability to burn at temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, is highly effective for both weed management and pest control, said Administrator Lee Zeldin, who sought to assure the public that the highly incendiary liquid, which removes unwanted insects, fungus, rodents, raccoons, and deer with the press of a flamethrower trigger, posed no threat to human health whatsoever.
The evidence shows commercial farms lose far fewer crops to pests once all wildlife in the area has been thoroughly fire-bombed. We also urge napalms widespread adoption in small backyard gardens, where slugs and snails can be easily engulfed in a ball of flame. The move follows a statement from the EPA last month encouraging farmers to control rabbit populations by lining the perimeter of their fields with land mines.
https://theonion.com/epa-approves-use-of-napalm-as-pesticide/
niyad
(135,100 posts)SheltieLover
(82,492 posts)One never knows these days.
biophile
(1,650 posts)It kills everything- fire is not selective. And hard to control.
This is awful.
Its not beyond them to do this - onion dont give them any ideas!
usonian
(26,983 posts)
" The smell, you know, the smell, the whole hill. Smelled like tasty fried onions.
🧅 🧅🧅🧅🧅
PufPuf23
(10,002 posts)Jellied fuels are sometimes used in forest regeneration to clear for tree planting while reducing competing vegetation and pests and pathogens. Fire can be used by as tool for creating undesirable tree monocultures. Fire is also a tool in forest management and part of the natural cycle. The jellied fuels are also used in setting backfires to fight wildfires. There is one system that essentially uses ping ponds balls filled with napalm for aerial application.
Have an acquaintance that is currently at UC Santa Cruz developing an AI and laser system to replace glyphosate and similar in weeding agriculture crops.
senseandsensibility
(25,917 posts)Just don't want anyone to have a heart attack.
PufPuf23
(10,002 posts)Fire can be part of agriculture or forestry and is usually far more environmentally benign or helpful than a chemical pesticide or fertilizer.
niyad
(135,100 posts)Turbineguy
(40,274 posts)niyad
(135,100 posts)eppur_se_muova
(42,844 posts)Last edited Fri Jun 12, 2026, 10:01 PM - Edit history (1)
VISITOR: Why do you have land mines on the sofas ?
DUKE: I'm teaching the dogs to stay off the furniture.