Missouri Dicamba Ban Released

New Rules on Spray Hours and Applicators

Symptoms of dicamba injury have caused states to take a harder line on applications of low volatility dicamba formulations. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn on Thursday issued a notice of release from the statewide stop sale, use or removal order for Engenia, XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology and FeXapan Herbicide Plus VaporGrip Technology.

New rules put additional rules and regulations on who can spray the products and the hours of day they can be sprayed. The move follows similar rules announced for use of dicamba products in Tennessee. Arkansas has instituted a ban on in-crop agricultural uses of dicamba products for the remainder of the growing season.

The new rules come on the heels of reports of injury in sensitive crops and plants and formal complaints that have been filed with state pesticide regulatory agencies.

"From the moment the stop sale and use order went into effect, we've been working to get these weed control products back into the hands of our farmers," said Chinn. "BASF, Monsanto and DuPont came to the table and agreed to additional safeguards for product use in response to issues we've faced this growing season."

In an effort to reduce off-target crop injury, the department has approved a "special local need" label for each herbicide, which includes special provisions and safeguards for the use of this technology in Missouri.

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According to the special local need labels, to apply the herbicide to dicamba-tolerant soybeans and dicamba-tolerant cotton in Missouri, the following restrictions must be followed:

-- Wind Speed -- DO NOT apply at wind speeds greater than 10 mph. Applicators must measure and record wind speed and wind direction for each field prior to application.

-- Application Timing -- DO NOT apply before 9 a.m. and DO NOT apply after 3 p.m.

-- Certified Applicator -- All applications of Engenia, XtendiMax and FeXapan must be made by a properly licensed Missouri certified private applicator or certified commercial applicator, certified noncommercial applicator or certified public operator.

-- Dicamba Notice of Application Form -- Certified applicators must complete an online web-based form "Dicamba Notice of Application" prior to the actual application. The Dicamba Notice of Application Form is posted on the Missouri Department of Agriculture's website at: www.Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba/notice/.

-- Recordkeeping Requirements -- Certified private applicators, certified noncommercial applicators and certified public operators must keep and maintain a record of use for each application of Engenia, XtendiMax or FeXapan herbicide.

-- This release applies to the sale, distribution and use of Engenia Herbicide, EPA Registration Number 7969-345 -- SLN label MO-17-0003; XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 524-617 -- SLN label MO-17-0002; and FEXAPAN (TM) Herbicide Plus VaporGrip (TM) Technology, EPA Registration Number 352-913 -- SLN label MO-17-0004. The statewide order will remain in effect until Dec. 1, 2017, for all other dicamba containing products labeled for agricultural use.

To obtain a certified private applicator license, the applicant must complete the certified private applicator training program provided by the University of Missouri Extension office. Training programs are offered throughout the year in local county Extension offices. Once the training has been completed, the applicant will complete a private applicator certification training verification form. The form will be signed by the instructor and mailed to our office (no license fee is charged). Upon receipt of the verification form, a certified private applicator license will be issued to the applicant. To learn more about becoming a certified private applicator, visit the department's web site: http://agriculture.mo.gov/….

More detailed information about this issue, dicamba and the department's role in investigations is available at www.Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba.

(PS/AG)

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