Missouri Lifts Dicamba Ban, Tightens Application Rules

As expected, the Missouri Department of Agriculture lifted its ban on new dicamba formulations on July 13, following consultation with the herbicide manufacturers to develop Special Local Need labels.

Less than a week after issuing a Stop Sale and Use Order for all dicamba products, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn released the three new technologies – Engenia herbicide, XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, and FeXapan Herbicide Plus VaporGrip Technology – from the order.

The statewide order, however, will remain in effect until December 1, 2017, for all other dicamba containing products labeled for agricultural use.

“From the moment the stop sale and use order went into effect, we’ve been working to get these weed control products back into the hands of our farmers,” said Chinn. “BASF, Monsanto and DuPont came to the table and agreed to additional safeguards for product use in response to issues we’ve faced this growing season.”

Missouri now joins Tennessee in developing emergency rules for use of the new dicamba technologies for the remainder of the 2017 growing season.

In an effort to reduce off-target crop injury, the Department approved a Section 24c Special Local Need label for each herbicide, which includes specific provisions and safeguards for the use of this technology in Missouri. According to those labels, the following restrictions must be followed in order to apply the herbicide to dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybeans:

• Wind Speed – DO NOT apply at wind speeds greater than 10 mph. Applicators must measure and record wind speed and wind direction for each field prior to application.
• Application Timing – DO NOT apply before 9:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m.
• Certified Applicator – All applications of Engenia, XtendiMax and FeXapan must be made by a properly licensed Missouri certified private applicator or certified commercial applicator, certified noncommercial applicator or certified public operator.
• Dicamba Notice of Application Form – Certified applicators must complete an online web-based form “Dicamba Notice of Application” prior to the actual application.
• Recordkeeping Requirements – Certified private applicators, certified noncommercial applicators and certified public operators must keep and maintain a record of use for each application of Engenia, XtendiMax or FeXapan herbicides.

More detailed information about this issue, dicamba and the Department of Agriculture’s role in investigations is available online.