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Finding a path forward for the dicamba technology

One of the big questions in the dicamba drift debate is how it going to affect the future of the technology.

University of Arkansas weed scientist Jason Norsworthy says there is a lot of research going on this summer across the U.S. to try to understand what happened with dicamba this year and to try to lay out a path forward for the coming year.

“I hope that we can be successful with the Xtend technology. We need every tool in our tool basket in order to be successful and we’re losing them at an alarming rate,” says Norsworthy. “I know there’s a lot of meetings and discussions taking place right now as to what happened for the 2017 growing season and how do we ensure that it doesn’t occur in 2018.”

Norsworthy says while drift issue is very serious, the performance of dicamba in Arkansas has actually been impressive.

“Those individuals that have purchased the technology have found value in using it, at least up until it was banned,” he says. “There is some value to it, that they see, in terms of controlling pigweed.”

But Norsworthy says the drift issues need to be addressed.

“I don’t think that growers need to necessarily be forced into planting a technology. I think we should have the freedom to choose what we want.”

Another question is how the federal EPA will respond. Norsworthy says the EPA is having dialogue with states concerning the off-target issues.

Brownfield spoke with Norsworthy at a Balance GTLL field day near Olivia, Minnesota.

AUDIO: Jason Norsworthy