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Arkansas lawmakers ask panel to reconsider dicamba restrictions

An Arkansas legislative subcommittee has refused to ratify the Arkansas State Plant Board’s proposal to restrict farmers’ use of dicamba herbicide in 2018.

The Plant Board voted last month to prohibit in-crop spraying of the herbicide from April 16th through October 31st.  But on Tuesday the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee approved a motion to kick the measure back to the Plant Board.

The motion was made by Senator Bill Sample of Hot Springs, who said he wants the Plant Board to consider alternative cutoff dates for different regions of the state and to look at cutoffs involving temperatures. However, supporters of the Plant Board’s proposal say both of those issues have already been studied and rejected by the board and by weed scientists as either unfair or unworkable.

The legislative subcommittee’s vote isn’t the final word on the issue. It is subject to review Friday by the full Legislative Council, which has the power to approve or reject the proposed ban.

In a statement provided to Brownfield, Monsanto spokesman Scott Partridge said the Arkansas Plant Board “should use this opportunity to make a science-based decision that ensures that Arkansas growers can experience the benefits of in-crop Dicamba use next year.”