Credit Daniel Breen / KUAR News
State agriculture regulators have once again shifted the rules governing a controversial herbicide that’s been blamed for widespread crop damage.
Members of the Arkansas State Plant Board on Monday voted to change the cutoff date for spraying dicamba, an herbicide used on genetically-modified cotton and soybeans.
The weedkiller, which has been responsible for thousands of complaints of damage in the state, can now be sprayed legally until the end of June, later than last year’s May 25 cutoff. That’s despite research from the University of Arkansas showing the chemical can vaporize at higher temperatures, causing damage to non-tolerant plants.
DFP Staff
Arkansas farmers should be able to spray dicamba through June 30 this crop season. Many are hopeful the extra time will help them fight Palmer amaranth. Plant board votes to relax some Arkansas dicamba regulations. Will still not follow federal label.
Suggested Event
Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
The Arkansas State Plant Board voted May 3 to change dicamba rules, delaying spray cutoff dates and reducing buffer zones in some instances.
While changes proposed in a March plant board meeting called for adopting the federal dicamba labels as a guideline for spray applications, the proposal presented in the May 3 meeting had some significant modifications. The approved changes include:
Graphic courtesy of Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
The Arkansas State Plant Board will hold a virtual public hearing via Zoom on May 3, 2021 to receive comments on proposed changes to the Plant Board rules on dicamba usage. The proposed rule change may be viewed here.
Members of the public desiring to make verbal comments at the May 3 hearing must pre-register here. Pre-registration began April 14 and continues through April 29, 2021. Written comments were accepted through April 22, 2021.
The State Plant Board will also hold a special called board meeting after the conclusion of the public hearing. You can find more information about the public hearing, special called board meeting, dicamba updates, laws, and regulations here.
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The Arkansas County Extension Service will hold pesticide certification training for those needing re-certification or new certification in order to obtain a license for 2021 from the Arkansas State Plant Board. Pre-registration is required and no walk-ups will be allowed for the seven sessions that will take place on the dates listed below:
• Thursday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Monday, March 8 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 12 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
All training sessions will take place at the DeWitt Community Center. The cost to attend is $20 per person and is payable at the training session. The registration does not affect the price paid to the Arkansas State Plant Board for a license.
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