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Minnesota farmer taking guarded approach to using dicamba

A southeast Minnesota farmer is taking a guarded approach towards dicamba as the 2018 growing season begins.

Ryan Buck grows corn and soybeans in Goodhue County.

He tells Brownfield there are concerns of more drift problems after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture fielded more than 200 complaints last year.

“We all went to the classes this winter that they had on dicamba and if guys do it right and follow the directions there shouldn’t really be any issues.  In our area there are a lot of Xtend soybeans sold this year and all of our (soybeans) are (Xtend) this year too, so it’s technology we’re going to use.”

With planting more than two weeks behind the average pace in Minnesota, Buck says following date and temperature cutoffs for dicamba could be a challenge.

“We did get going a little later, so our timeline on spraying is going to be pushed back (compared) to a normal year.  But who’s to say we ever have a normal year?  It should be alright.  But this year could be a little challenging depending on when the beans get in and when it’s time to spray them.”

For 2018, the Department of Ag has restricted the use of dicamba technology when temperatures exceed 85 degrees.

MDA also issued a cutoff date of June 20^th, although ag commissioner Dave Frederickson says there could be some flexibility depending on growing conditions.