MDA Encourages Farmers to Take Survey on Alleged Dicamba Damage

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.

NDSU Crop Management Field School Scheduled for June 20 in Carrington

The North Dakota State University Extension Service's annual crop management field school will be offered Thursday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC).

The school will provide updates, using hands-on training in field research and demonstration plots, on crop and pest scouting and management recommendations. The school is targeted for crop advisers, but the program also will be beneficial for farmers.

Specific field sessions include:

* Weed identification - identify more than 60 living weed exhibits and review biology and control

* Herbicide mode of action - identify herbicide classes by examining crop and weed injury symptoms

* Wheat - fungicide strategies

* Insect management - review current insect concerns

* Corn -- plant health, nutrition, protection and intensive management

* Soybeans - root rot and white mold management

NDSU instructors for the field school are Venkat Chapara, Extension Service area crop protection specialist; Greg Endres, Extension Service area agronomist; Kirk Howatt, weed scientist; Mike Ostlie, CREC research agronomist; Shana Pederson, Extension Service area agronomist; Blaine Schatz, CREC director and research
agronomist; and Michael Wunsch, CREC plant pathologist.

Preregistration is required. A total of 50 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will receive reference materials, refreshments and a noon meal. Certified crop advisers participating in the event will receive 6 continuing education units.

For further details and preregistration information, go to http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/CarringtonREC/events or contact the Carrington center at (701) 652-2951. A completed preregistration form and $75 fee is required by June 17 ($100 after June 17).