Cotton and soybean growers may be closer to having another tool to reduce the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a 30-day public comment period regarding the in-crop use of dicamba herbicide with Bollgard® II XtendFlex™ cotton and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans.
“Dicamba has a decades-long history of safe and effective use in the U.S. and 25 other countries in corn, wheat, fallow and pasture land, conservation tillage acres, as well as homeowner uses,” Monsanto said in a news release late last week.
“Following final approvals, farmers will be able to use dicamba in-crop with soybeans tolerant to dicamba and glyphosate with cotton tolerant to dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate.”
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is not as pleased with the proposal.
“The EPA is allowing for staggering increases in pesticide use that will undoubtedly harm our nation’s most imperiled plants and animals,” Nathan Donley, CBD scientist, told Agri-Pulse.
“When used according to label directions, dicamba is safe for everyone, including infants, the developing fetus, the elderly and more highly exposed groups such as agricultural workers,” the EPA said in an online Q&A.
“Stakeholders comments will really make a difference,” said Kim Magin, Monsanto’s director of Industry Affairs. “Supportive letters are important for regulators to understand the various perspectives from farmers and agricultural stakeholders.”
The comment period ends April 30.
To submit comments, farmers can use a tool Monsanto has provided.