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Arkansas Secretary of Ag: farmers need certainty on dicamba

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and other ag groups continue to ask the EPA for clarification on the recent dicamba ruling from a District Court in Arizona.

Arkansas Secretary of Ag Wes Ward says farmers are facing difficult decisions as planting season nears. “They’ve got to look at their individual farm and make the best decision that they can, and that’s weighing a lot of different options on tillage and feed use and all of that,” he says. “So it’s challenging and you know, hopefully we’ll have an answer soon.”

He tells Brownfield the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture established policy during its annual meeting earlier this week to ask the Environmental Protection Agency for guidance as farmers already have made cropping decisions for 2024. “Asking for as soon as possible for them to help navigate what 2024 is going to look like,” he says.  “Whether that’s appealing the decision, or granting an existing stocks order using their discretion under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act.”

Ward says farmers face significant disruptions to the upcoming growing season, and with cotton planting just around the corner, they need certainty.

AUDIO: Secretary Wes Ward, Arkansas Department of Agriculture