By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
In a recent webinar hosted by Minnesota Farm Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Andrew Wheeler said he expects a decision on re-registration of two dicamba products by mid-October.
Two companies, Bayer and BASF, have submitted new applications for dicamba products after a federal court vacated the registrations of their products, along with one other, in June.
The court decision “surprised me,” said Wheeler, who made an emergency EPA declaration allowing farmers to continue using the herbicide through the end of July.
“We intend to have a decision made by the middle of October on whether or not we’ll be able to license dicamba for the 2021 growing season,” Wheeler said. “I know people need to have advanced notice on it, so we’re working very hard.”
He cautioned the audience that if Bayer’s Xtendimax and BASF’s Engenia applications are not thoroughly reviewed, a repeat court decision could derail plans to bring the products back to the market.
“We can’t just approve dicamba without going through all of the science and taking a look at all of the issues and the court decision itself to see what issues they raised,” Wheeler said. “If we don’t do that, it would be struck down immediately by the courts. So, we are doing a very thorough review of the pesticides for both companies and taking a look at whether we can re-register it and what the label requirements would be.”
Wheeler believes EPA is on track for an October decision.
“Crop protection tools are critical in modern agriculture,” Brant Wilbourn, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) associate director of Commodity & Regulatory Activities, said. “The availability of these products to Texas farmers is important in their efforts to fight herbicide-resistant weeds, and the sooner EPA can make a decision, the better. That will help farmers who are trying to make plans for the next planting season.”
Wheeler said the agency understands those needs and concerns.
“Agriculture is a top priority of the Trump administration and the EPA. It is important for us to listen to [farmers and ranchers], as only through collaboration can we achieve EPA’s core goals of protecting human health and the environment,” he said. “When other nations around the world look for the best in agricultural technology and expertise, they look to the United States. That’s a testament to your work, and we will support farmers and ranchers across the country as you feed the world.”