The Environmental Protection Agency announced late Monday they were issuing a cancellation order for three dicamba herbicides, while allowing for some existing stocks to be used by July 31. This follows a June 3 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and an order to vacate registrations on XtendiMax, Engenia and FeXapan. SDSU Extension Weed Science Coordinator Paul Johnson says the agency will allow growers and applicators to use product in their possession as of June 3 and this does includes prepay.
However, he says there was very little product in the supply channel, so EPA’s decision may not be much help for farmers with dicamba beans. Johnson says the options farmers have left are to use Roundup, Tavium if they can find it, or another conventional herbicide. He does warn against using generic dicamba.
Johnson says states with emergency exemptions issued in the last few days will also have to follow the EPA order.
Johnson expects some legal action against EPA by farmers who will suffer yield losses without an effective weed control option. The decision was a shock to the industry who had suggested to EPA that it should appeal the court ruling.
