St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture
(MDA) is gathering information on plant damage that may have been caused by the
use of the herbicide dicamba. The MDA is encouraging anyone with damage to completea survey. The survey
will be open until September 15.
“We are trying to gather as much information on this
issue as possible,” said Assistant Commissioner Susan Stokes. “Often, neighbors
don’t want to file a formal complaint regarding crop damage against their
neighbors. This survey, along with information we’re gathering from the product
registrants, applicators, and farmers, will help us collect info to assess the
scope of the situation. We’re asking for everyone’s cooperation on this
issue."
Dicamba is a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds in
corn and a variety of other food and feed crops, as well as in residential
areas. In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
conditionally approved the use of certain new dicamba products on dicamba
tolerant (DT) soybeans.
Dicamba is a highly volatile chemical that can drift
and/or volatilize. Dicamba drift may cause unintended impacts such as serious
damage to non-DT soybeans, other sensitive crops, and non-crop plants. This
survey looks to gather information about these unintended impacts to other
crops and plants.
As of Thursday, August 3, the MDA had received 102
reports of alleged dicamba damage; not all of those reports requested an
investigation. Those who have already submitted a report
to the MDA are encouraged to completethe survey.
If you believe dicamba was used in violation of the label
or law, and you wish to request an MDA investigation, you will also need
to complete the pesticidemisuse complaint form
or call the Pesticide Misuse Complaint line at 651-201-6333.
You can find out more information on dicamba at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/dicamba.
