Dicamba drift affects crops throughout Missouri.

Statement by Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst Regarding Problem of Dicamba Drift

“Earlier today the Missouri Department of Agriculture announced a series of steps to address the problem of Dicamba drift.  This problem is worst in the southeast part of Missouri, but has affected crops throughout our state.  Director Chinn and her staff have been on top of the situation since the problem first appeared, traveling throughout the state to survey damage and visiting with producers and the companies marketing Dicamba-based products. 

“After consulting with hundreds of people with firsthand knowledge of the situation, the Department has moved to stop the sale and use of Dicamba while we search for solutions.  There are no good answers, no easy solutions, but the Department has acted in a way that both protects a technology important to crop farmers in our state, while also protecting those who are suffering losses.  It is now incumbent on the companies active in this market to work with the Department to find a way forward that protects both farmers at risk of losing their crops to weed infestation and those farmers' neighbors.  

“Missouri Farm Bureau has been involved in these discussions since early this summer, and is fully supportive of the actions taken by Director Chinn and the Department.  There is much to be learned about the use of this technology, and a temporary pause in the use of Dicamba will allow all parties to work toward a solution.  Critics of new technologies in agriculture often accuse those who regulate our industry of being asleep at the switch, failing to act when problems occur.  Today's action puts an end to those accusations.  We will work with the Department and other affected parties to move forward in a common-sense manner.”

The Caldwell County News

101 South Davis
P.O. Box 218
Hamilton, MO 64644
Phone: 816-583-2116
news@mycaldwellcounty.com

Sign Up For Breaking News

Stay informed on our latest news!

Manage my subscriptions

Subscribe to Newsletter feed