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Illinois farmer concerned about date and temperature cutoffs for dicamba

An Illinois farmer says the 2020 Illinois dicamba application cutoff date of June 20^th coupled with a temperature cutoff of 85 degrees poses some concern.

Elliot Uphoff uses dicamba on his soybeans near Shelbyville, Illinois.

“I do think the temperature could be beneficial. Agronomically it makes sense. But having both the temperature and the cut-off date is going to be really tough on whoever is responsible for spraying your fields. They are going to have a very small window to be able to get what they need accomplished.”

Kevin Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical association says they support the new restrictions.

“We have to show progress in Illinois. We do not want to see this actually come down to the House or Senate making changes on this label.”

Johnson reminds applicators that stewardship is key when using the product, and Uphoff agrees.

“I don’t want to hurt somebody else’s beans just to make mine better.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has submitted the two additional restrictions to the EPA for the 2020 state label to help lower the number of dicamba related misuse complaints in Illinois.