Missouri Department of Agriculture temporarily issues Stop Sale, Use or
Removal Order on all Dicamba products in Missouri
JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo. – Effective immediately, Missouri Director of Agriculture
Chris Chinn has issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order on all products
labeled for agricultural use that contain Dicamba in Missouri. All on-farm
applications of Dicamba products must cease immediately.
Since Jan. 1, 2017, the Department’s Bureau of Pesticide
Control has received more than 130 pesticide drift complaints that are believed
to be related to Dicamba, which has allegedly damaged thousands of acres of crops.
The decision to issue a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order in Missouri was made
with an abundance of caution and is temporary until a more permanent solution
is reached.
“We want to protect farmers and their livelihoods. At the
same time, my commitment to technology and innovation in agriculture is
unwavering,” Director of Agriculture
Chris Chinn 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.”
Pesticide distributors and retailers must immediately stop
all sales and offers of sales of all Dicamba products labeled for agricultural
use. All agricultural pesticide users,
including certified commercial applicators and private applicators, must
immediately cease in-crop, post-emergent use of all Dicamba products.
Products include, but are not limited to:
-
FeXapan
herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 352-913;
-
Engenia
Herbicide, EPA Registration Number 7969-345; and
-
XTENDIMAX
with VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 524-617
Distributors, retailers and pesticide applicators in possession of Dicamba
products labeled for agricultural use are advised not to sell or use the
products until the stop sale expires or is lifted. Sale, use or removal of such
products would be a violation of Section 281.101 RSMo and subject to civil
penalties.
“With only a small window left for application in this
growing season, I understand the critical need to resolve this issue,” Director
Chinn said. “I look forward to working with our farmers, researchers and industry
partners to find an immediate solution.”
More detailed information about this issue, Dicamba and the
department’s role in investigations is available at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba.
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