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Tri-state weed scientists recommend additional dicamba steps

Weed scientists from Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois have offered recommendations to reduce off-target movement of dicamba.

Purdue University’s Bill Johnson says it’s critical that growers consider wind speed and direction.

“If it’s a half mile or less and there’s any wind in that direction, it’s simply not a good idea,” he says. “But the other key thing to keep in mind as well is that this stuff will volatilize for up to three days after application. If that wind is going to be blowing toward that sensitive vegetation for the next three days then I would think about doing something different.”

Audio: Bill Johnson, Purdue University 

Ohio State University’s Mark Loux says avoiding application when temperatures are above 80 degrees is also recommended.

“The temperature is kind of a different thing- we decided on 80 degrees,” he says. “If there’s a volatility component it’s always temperature dependent. We’re trying to get people to think about whether or not it’s a day hot enough for volatility to possibly happen.”

Audio: Mark Loux, Ohio State University 

Loux says Ohio will likely not pursue a state label. Johnson says a state label and recommendations are in the works in Indiana. He says a cutoff date will likely be sometime in June.

Aaron Hager with University of Illinois helped create the recommendations.