DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported yesterday that, “Just how complex will dicamba use be in 2019?
“So complex that the three new dicamba labels released by EPA last week are each around 40 pages long and accompanied by nearly 200 pages of documents detailing the herbicides’ registration requirements and their potential impacts on the general population, farmers and endangered species.
“States are working overtime to interpret the new XtendiMax, Engenia and FeXapan labels and struggling to take the proper first steps to prepare for 2019.”
The DTN article stated that, “Indiana’s pesticide regulators decided to drop all state-mandated dicamba training for its applicators in an effort to cut down on the state dollars and resources devoted to dicamba. Illinois agencies are knocking on EPA’s door, asking for clarification on the new applicator requirements, which could mean up to 5,000 applicators in the state are not qualified to apply these herbicides in 2019. And the Arkansas State Plant Board has voted to consider allowing dicamba use in 2019 with a June 15 cut-off.
“All are driven by a ticking clock — states have only a few short months to prepare thousands of applicators and farmers for the 2019 spray season — and the promise of a heavy workload ahead.”
Ms. Unglesbee added that, “For more information on the new dicamba labels and registration, see the EPA website here: https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/registration-dicamba-use-dicamba-tolerant-crops
