Begemann and Skiles, 2017
Sonja Begemann and Susan Skiles Luke, July 10, 2017, “Arkansas, Missouri Ban Dicamba,” AgWeb.
SUMMARY:
Effective just after midnight on July 11, Arkansas finalizes a 120-day emergency ban on dicamba sales and use. Missouri also banned dicamba the week before, with the intent of re-opening sales once the investigation into complaints of damage from dicamba drift is complete. The Missouri Soybean Association is quoted as saying that more than 200,000 acres of soybeans are affected in the state. In a statement, Monsanto stressed the importance of “following label and local requirements” for their Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System of dicamba-resistant soybeans. The article lists the number of complaints of dicamba damage in Arkansas as “nearly 600,” up from the 500 reported on July 6, 2017. FULL TEXT
Begemann, 2017
Sonja Begemann, “Dicamba Damage Watch,” July 6, 2017, AgPro.
SUMMARY:
Describes the symptoms of dicamba damage – cupped and wrinkled soybean leaves – and other culprits that could be the cause such as other herbicide damage, pests such as aphids and various plant diseases. It can take 7 to 21 days for dicamba damage to appear, and it will only be evident on new leaves, not those present when the drift occurs. Percentages as low as 0.06 to 1.9% can cause damage resulting in yield loss. FULL TEXT
Charles, 2017b
Dan Charles, “Damage From Wayward Weedkiller Keeps Growing,” July 6, 2017, NPR.
SUMMARY:
NPR Morning Edition radio piece reports that dicamba-related complaints in Arkansas are up from 250 at the end of June to 550 by July 6th. Estimates of potential damaged soybeans are up to 2 million acres. The new Monsanto dicamba resistant cotton and soybean is being blamed for this damage from an herbicide that has been in use for over 50 years. As one farmer quoted in the story puts it, “This technology cannot be allowed to exist. It cannot co-exist with other crops.” On the other side of the debate, farmers using the GE crops claim that dicamba is working great against the herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth that is plaguing their fields, and Monsanto’s head of crop protection sees all this as “just part of the learning curve.” FULL TEXT
Hickey, 2017
Chris Hickey, “Legislative Panel Delays Decision On Arkansas Dicamba Ban,” July 6, 2017, NPR.
SUMMARY:
Reports that the subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council deferred a decision on whether to ban use and sale of dicamba. Governor Asa Hutchinson referred the decision to the committee following hi approval of a 120-day emergency ban proposed by the Arkansas Plant Board. The subcommittee did approve an emergency rule to increase fines up to $25,000 for misuse of dicamba. All this follows the approval in December of BASF’s Engenia dicamba-based herbicide. The board will re-convene to continue the debate the following week. FULL TEXT
Associated Press, 2017b
Associated Press, “Farm chemical linked to oak damage,” July 2, 2017, Quad-City Times,
SUMMARY:
Reports that almost 1,000 residents of Iowa have contacted the state Department of Natural Resources about damaged leaves on oak trees (photo, right) that looked like insect damage. Research from the University of Illinois in 2004 showed that herbicide drift was likely linked to the condition, known as leaf tatters, due to exposure to chloroacetanilide herbicides like dicamba. Exposure occurs from direct drift but also through atmospheric volubility in areas not close to where the herbicide was applied. White oaks are particularly susceptible, and trees can die if damage to the leaves occurs over multiple years. FULL TEXT
Steed, 2017
Stephen Steed, “Governor approves dicamba prohibition in Arkansas,” Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette,
SUMMARY:
Reports that on June 31, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson submitted a letter that approved the Arkansas Plant Board’s proposed 120-emergency ban on dicamba sale and use in the state. He wrote that ” the volume of complaints do justify emergency action;” 507 complaints had been received as of June 31st. The proposed ban next goes to a subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council for review, although their approval is not required for the ban to take effect. The article reports that complaints in neighboring states are also up, with 100 in Missouri and 48 in Mississippi as of the end of June 2017. FULL TEXT
Bennett, 2017b
Chris Bennett, “Arkansas Dicamba Ban Passes, Heads to Governor’s Desk,” June 26, 2017, AgPro.
SUMMARY:
Report on the vote of the Arkansas plant board on June 23 for a 120-day emergency ban on dicamba use after 242 complaints of damage from drift were received. The article points out the huge problem of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in Arkansas fields, and the issue of seed availability, estimating that in 2018 70-80% of the seed available will be of the Xtend GE-variety, creating a greater need for dicamba.
Bennett, 2017a
Chris Bennett, “Dicamba Drift Reports Rise in Tenessee,” June 26, 2017, Ag Web.
SUMMARY:
Reports that as of June 26, Tennesse Department of Agriculture has open investigations on 27 dicamba drift complaints, compared to only 3 in the same time period last year. FULL TEXT
Charles, 2017a
Dan Charles, “Arkansas Tries To Stop An Epidemic Of Herbicide Damage,” June 23, 2017, NPR.
SUMMARY:
NPR story focusing on the farmer-vs-farmer conflicts arising in Arkansas due to dicamba damage. By press date, 242 complaints had been received by state regulators. On June 23, 2017 the Arkansas Plant Board voted to ban any spraying of dicamba on crops, other than pasture land, for 120 days. The ban would take effect as soon as signed by the governor. FULL TEXT
Steed, 2016
Stephen Steed, “Dicamba decision looms for governor; limit herbicide’s use, Arkansas panel urges,” December 18, 2016, Arkansas Online.
SUMMARY:
The governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson is pondering whether to accept recommendations by the state Plant Board to limit dicamba use in the coming growing season over concerns about damage from drift from new GE dicamba-tolerant crops. FULL TEXT