Legislative committee studies impact of illegal herbicide spraying on Bootheel farms

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Farmers, researchers, government employees and company officials all voiced their opinions Wednesday afternoon during a hearing by the House Select Committee on Agriculture. Their concern was the damage, particularly in Southeast Missouri, by the illegal spraying of the herbicide dicamba.

This year alone the Missouri Department of Agriculture has received complaints of crop damage by the herbicide to more than 40,000 acres of soybeans, peaches, watermelon, peanuts and other crops. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, there were over 125 complaints from the counties of Stoddard, New Madrid, Pemiscot and Dunklin with complaints also coming from Butler and Carroll counties.

Starting off the testimony at the hearing, conducted at the University of Missouri Delta Center, was Duane Simpson, who leads Monsanto's U.S. State and Local Government Affairs team. Monsanto has developed genetically modified dicamba tolerant cotton and soybeans and currently is awaiting approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to commercialize new formulations of dicamba for use on these crops, Simpson said.

Pictured from left are Bill Reiboldt, chairman of the House Select Committee on Agriculture; House Speeker Todd Richardson; State Representative Don Rone; Rep. Sue Merideth; and State Rep. Jay Houghton.

Pictured from left are Bill Reiboldt, chairman of the House Select Committee on Agriculture; House Speeker Todd Richardson; State Representative Don Rone; Rep. Sue Merideth; and State Rep. Jay Houghton.

"Monsanto has not sold any dicamba. Period," Simpson emphasized as he began his testimony.

Weed resistance to current chemicals is growing problem, he noted. In Missouri, farmers are currently facing challenges fighting Palmer Amaranth and waterhemp.

For Monsanto, Simpson said, the challenge is dealing with the EPA. He explained, the company made its first submission for approval in April 2010 and the EPA has yet to finalize the label which would detail how the chemical can be used.

"An approved label would give Missouri farmers a cost-effective, new tool to control resistant weeds," Simpson said. "By adding a new tool to combat resistant weeds, dicamba could help reduce this difficult weed pressure and aid significantly in production, reducing economic losses to soybeans and cotton growers."

According to Simpson, once the label is approved by EPA, Monsanto will offer general training with dealers, applicators and farmers on the proper way to use dicamba.

"Monsanto, like all of you, is concerned about the damage we are seeing due to the alleged illegal misuse of pesticides," he concluded.

Simpson was questioned by Committee members, who are from across the state, about what the requirements will be to prevent damage to neighboring fields. He said their will be recommendations dealing with droplet size, wind levels, spraying times and cleaning of equipment.

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