USDA Seeks Public Input Regarding Monsanto’s Dicamba-Tolerant Technology

In early March, Monsanto unveiled its plans to introduce triple-mode-of-action herbicide tolerant technology into the cotton market. The company hopes to introduce the technology, known as Bollgard II XtendFlex, into cotton by the 2015 growing season. This timeline is contingent, however, on federal registration of the technology and its accompanying herbicide products.

As part of the approval process for any new agriculture technology, USDA considers public input in its decision making. The federal group values input from the various voices of rural America and others in the agriculture community when, in this case, weighing whether or not to deregulate cotton that is tolerant to dicamba and glufosinate, in addition to glyphosate.

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Monsanto is encouraging cotton producers and other agriculture professionals to take part in this process, in hopes that they will voice their support of the new technology.

“Part of this deregulation process is a public comment period, where USDA opens a website where interested folks could go online and state their case of support for the technology, and why its valuable to them, and why they want to see deregulation of that technology to be available for commercial sale,” says Jordan Iverson, Monsanto cotton traits marketing manager.

Cotton industry professionals and weed experts have voiced their opinion that a new mode of action, such as dicamba tolerant technology, is needed in cotton production to protect against the further development of herbicide resistance.

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Monsanto has developed a website to assist those interested in participating in the public comment process. Those interested are encouraged to visit www.roundupreadyplus.com/supportdicamba/cotton to develop a comment and find out more about comment submission.

The deadline for all comments to be received is April 29, 2013.

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Avatar for Earl P. Williams, Pres/CEO Ca. Cotton Growers Earl P. Williams, Pres/CEO Ca. Cotton Growers says:

Weed control is an important component in Ca. cotton production. Growers here have been quick to adopt herbicide resistant cotton varieties when introduced here. Todate we have not experienced resistance as in other cotton growing regions. Resistance would definately put cotton at a competitive disadvantage here with other competing crops as well as other cotton producing regions if developed. Cotton is a strong rotation option in the extremely diverse cropping schemes here because of the herbicide resistant traits which enables cost effective and timely weed mgmt following other crops without such technology. Ca. cotton's past was built around a dependable supply of high quality cotton. That reputation is still in place today and must be maintained to survive. Weed control is an important component of maintaining the quality of cotton we are known for. Hand labor for weed control is no longer an option because of cost and lack of a dependable and/or available labor supply. Continuing to depend on single modes of action in herbicides is a slippery slope as experienced in other areas. Mulitple modes of action will help avoid developement of resistance to herbicides in the future. Therefore, on behalf of the California cotton industry, I ask for your support of Monsanto's petition to bring this dicamba/glufosinate combination technology forward and in a timely manner. thank you for the opportunity to comment.