Farmers in the Western Corn Belt are reporting leaf cupping in soybean fields attributed to non-target drift of dicamba. This occurred in many areas where farmers that planted Xtend soybeans this season and sprayed dicamba on those fields for weed control. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson says they’ve had several reports of dicamba injury in the last couple of weeks.

Frederickson says at this time they are not planning to ban dicamba use like other states in the southern corn belt that have experienced dicamba injury.

He’s hopeful the companies will stand behind the error because currently they’re saying it was most likely applicator error. However, there is already a class action lawsuit in the works.

In a letter to farmers this week, Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley said it was too early to pinpoint the source of the dicamba injury or the yield loss. However, he stated the company would be with farmers every step of the way.
USDA’s website says federal crop insurance will not cover dicamba drift.