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Monsanto official criticizes ‘arbitrary’ cut-off dates for dicamba

A Monsanto official is applauding a decision by an Arkansas legislative subcommittee which refused to approve a proposed April 15th cut-off date for dicamba applications.

Scott Partridge tells Brownfield the Arkansas State Plant Board’s April 15th cut-off was essentially a ban on use of dicamba.

“It’s clear that the message coming from the legislative committee is that the Plant Board needs to actually look at the science, study it carefully, look at what’s being done in surrounding states, and come up with a solution that enables the growers in their state to have access to this important technology during the growing season,” Partridge says.

Some other states, including Missouri and Minnesota, have also established application cutoff dates, although they are later in the growing season. However, Iowa State University weed scientists have recommended that dicamba be used for pre-emergence only.

Partridge says there’s no scientific data to support those recommendations.

“There is no scientific information that supports an arbitrary cut-off date,” he says. “Banning the product from in-crop use, I think, is absolutely the wrong thing to do. It takes away a very important tool for growers, one that they need to use in order to be able to combat those difficult to control weeds.”

Partridge says they hope states that have set cut-off dates will be flexible as those dates approach. He says better training and education of applicators will be the key to avoiding the dicamba drift problems that occurred this past growing season.

Monsanto estimates that acres planted to dicamba-tolerant soybeans in 2018 will double those planted in 2017.

AUDIO: Scott Partridge