Friday, July 28, 2017 - Along with the ban in Arkansas, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has also halted the sale or use of any products containing the Monsanto-made herbicide Dicamba. This is in response to more than 130 “pesticide drift complaints” this year in the state. Farmers in 10 states — Missouri and neighboring Arkansas included — have already sued Monsanto for seed damage that they attribute to the pesticide.

St. Louis-based Monsanto said in a statement that it's concerned about potential crop injury and is complying with the state's order. It also said it "spent years" developing the technology to "minimize the potential for off-site movement.  We want to stress how important it is that growers and applicators who use our product follow the label requirements and any local requirements," the statement said.

Missouri's agriculture director, Chris Chinn, said the ban is meant to “protect farmers and their livelihoods.” “At the same time, my commitment to technology and innovation in agriculture is unwavering,” she said. “That’s why I am asking the makers of these approved post-emergent products, researchers and farmers to work with us to determine how we can allow applications to resume this growing season, under certain agreed upon conditions.”

The Missouri Farm Bureau said in a statement that there are “no good answers, no easy solutions” to the problem of herbicide drift.

COMMENT:  There is one good answer — stop registering dangerous, toxic agricultural chemicals.

Learn more at this link.