News

Missouri ag director puts temporary ban on dicamba

Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn has issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order on all products labeled for agricultural use that contain dicamba in Missouri.  In a news release the department said that all on-farm applications of dicamba products must cease immediately.

“We fully support what [the Missouri Department of Agriculture] did,” said Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst from his Northwest Missouri farm Friday, when reached by Brownfield Ag News.  “I think the Department did the best they could to try to deal with the problem.”

So far this year, the Department’s Bureau of Pesticide Control has received more than 130 pesticide drift complaints believed related to dicamba, which has allegedly damaged thousands of acres of crops. The decision to issue a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order in Missouri was made with an abundance of caution, said the Department’s news release, and is temporary until a more permanent solution is reached.

“We want to protect farmers and their livelihoods. At the same time, my commitment to technology and innovation in agriculture is unwavering,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “That’s why I am asking the makers of these approved post-emergent products, researchers and farmers to work with us to determine how we can allow applications to resume this growing season, under certain agreed upon conditions.”

Pesticide distributors and retailers must immediately stop all sales and offers of sales of all dicamba products labeled for agricultural use. All agricultural pesticide users, including certified commercial applicators and private applicators, must immediately cease in-crop, post-emergent use of all dicamba products. Products include, but are not limited to:

• FeXapan herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 352-913;
• Engenia Herbicide, EPA Registration Number 7969-345; and

•        XTENDIMAX with VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 524-617

Distributors, retailers and pesticide applicators in possession of dicamba products labeled for agricultural use are advised not to sell or use the products until the stop sale expires or is lifted. Sale, use or removal of such products would be a violation of Section 281.101 RSMo and subject to civil penalties.

“With only a small window left for application in this growing season, I understand the critical need to resolve this issue,” Director Chinn said. “I look forward to working with our farmers, researchers and industry partners to find an immediate solution.”

Arkansas lawmakers Friday put a 120-day ban on dicamba effective July 11.

AUDIO: Blake Hurst