News

Monsanto petitions Arkansas to prevent ’18 dicamba “ban”

Monsanto has filed a petition with the Arkansas State Plant Board to stop any steps it might take to ban dicamba products in the 2018 growing season. The Arkansas Dicamba Task force has recommended that application not take place after April 15th to limit drift damage from over-the-top application to soybeans and cotton.

Scott Partridge, Monsanto Vice president of Global Strategy, tells Brownfield that action, if taken, would amount to a product ban, “A ban for in-crop use.” Partridge tells Brownfield Ag News that would be an unwarranted and misinformed decision, saying farmers need the “very important” dicamba tools, such as Xtendimax herbicide, to control resistant weeds, “Last year we saw that tool taken out of their hands and this year we have committed to make a fulsome effort to make sure that Arkansas farmers are not placed at a disadvantage once again compared to the growers of the 33 other states in the United States who have used this product.”

Monsanto’s Chief Technology officer, Robb Fraley, has written to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, saying the Task Force has ignored evidence of factors in dicamba damage, including improper application. Arkansas’ governor has the final say.

AUDIO:  Interview with Scott Partridge: