[Updated] Herbicide Concerns Addressed Locally
07/13/2017

(MSC News)--A herbicide, that had been banned in two states, will be the focus of a community meeting Friday.

Set to happen at 12 noon at the firehouse in Corning, the session is being held to discuss the broadleaf weed killer known as dicamba.

At issue is the claim that the product drifts from where it's initially sprayed. Once it makes it's way to neighboring farms, ag-producers claim it's causing soybean damage.

Used in products manufactured by major herbicide companies, dicamba was banned in the state of Missouri earlier this month.

On July 7, the Missouri Department of Agriculture temporarily issued a stop sale, and use, on all dicamba products.

Chris Chinn serves as the Director of Agriculture for the state, and issued a message about the decision in a Youtube video.  

The Missouri Soybean Association, in a statement on their website, says “it's clear that action is needed,” with the statement saying upwards of 200,000 soybean acres are suspected of incurring damage in the state during the 2017 growing season.

However, that changed Thursday, July 13. The Associated Press reports the Missouri Department of Agriculture lifted the temporary halt to the use and sale,  saying it's satisfied by new safeguards involving the chemical.

The State of Arkansas, on July 7, also halted the sale and use of dicamba.

Monsanto issued a statement about that decision, saying it was “premature since the causes of any crop injury have not been fully investigated.”

As of July 13, the Arkansas ban remained in place. 

Possible, local crop damage from the product is the key reason behind Friday's noon meeting in Corning.

A Missouri agronomist is expected to speak at the session, and a Kansas City attorney will be in attendance.


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