After consulting growers, researchers and chemical companies, the Missouri Agriculture Department said it will ban use of BASF’s dicamba weedkiller on cotton and soybeans after June 1 in 10 southeastern counties and in the rest of the state after July 15 in order to prevent damage to neighboring crops. The state agency said it expects to issue similar limits for Monsanto and DuPont versions of the herbicide.
“Our intent in issuing this special local need label is to protect the technology for the future,” said state agriculture director Chris Chinn. Nationwide, there were reports of dicamba damage to more than 3.6 million acres of soybeans this year despite EPA approval of low-volatility formulations that were intended to minimize drift.
Arkansas has proposed a ban on row-crop use of dicamba after next April 16. The EPA has announced new restrictions on when and how dicamba is used and requires special training of applicators.
“Missouri is among several states expected to take additional steps to restrict how the herbicide is used above and beyond the federal restricted-use label. Tennessee is likely to announce additional label restrictions by early December,” said DTN/The Progressive Farmer.