Managing for Profit

Dicamba drift injures crops

University of Missouri weed scientist Kevin Bradley says there are reports of dicamba drift injury, including with legal applications of the herbicide.

“All I can say is, in Missouri, the ones I’m aware of, they’re all the new formations that have been applied,” Bradley told Brownfield Ag News, “and we still have some off-target movement.”

Dicamba was approved in the last year for application in-crop over soybeans specifically bred to be tolerant of the broadleaf herbicide.  BASF Enginia and Monsanto XtendiMax, are formulated to be less volatile, and to reduce drift onto sensitive crops.

In a statement emailed to Brownfield, Monsanto says they are aware of media reports regarding off-target movement of dicamba, though they say they can’t yet draw conclusions on those reports. The company says the application requirements for XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology will help minimize off-target movement and applicators need to follow label requirements. Since receiving label approval, Monsanto says it’s been continuing education efforts on approved application requirements.

There are also questions about the efficacy of the new dicamba formulations.  Bradley says some efficacy issues can be explained, such as the herbicide being applied to weeds that are just too big.

AUDIO: Kevin Bradley and Scooter Hodges (3 min. MP3)