Arkansas Rejects Farmers’ Request to Lift Dicamba Ban

Arkansas officials have denied a request by some farmers to lift the state’s ban on in-crop dicamba use.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state Plant Board rejected the farmers’ request on Tuesday. Board members say the farmers provided no new information that would change their minds on the issue.

The board implemented the ban on in-crop use of dicamba after receiving nearly 1,000 complaints of crop damage last year. The ban began April 16 and runs through Oct. 31.

Farmers wanting to use the product on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton had requested to lift the ban until June 25. They say their fields are being overrun by pigweed, which is now resistant to other herbicides.

Board member Jerry Hyde says he sympathizes with the farmers but doubts such a change could be implemented in time.

Related:

• Arkansas Supreme Court Halts Judge’s Dicamba Ban Exemptions
• Monsanto Moves to Stop Arkansas from Banning its Dicamba Weed Killer
• Arkansas Task Force: State Should Bar Dicamba Herbicide Next Year

Topics Agribusiness