Dicamba cutoff date for southeast Missouri counties extended to
June 10

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced this week a change to the 24c Special Local Need labels for FEXAPAN, XTENDIMAX and ENGENIA. The cutoff date for Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, Butler, Ripley, Bollinger and Cape Girardeau has been extended to June 10, 2018. The original cutoff date was set for June 1, 2018. 

“We have been diligently monitoring weather to determine what, if any, adjustments need to be made to the cutoff dates, as we have said we would from the beginning,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Because of the wet, cold spring, planting has been delayed. This extension will give farmers extra days to use these products prior to the cutoff date.”

All other 24c Special Local Need label restrictions remain the same. The cutoff date for all other Missouri counties is still July 15, 2018. After the cutoff dates, no applications (burndown, preplant, preemergence and postemergence) may be made.  

More detailed information about FEXAPAN, EPA Reg. No. 352-913 – SLN label MO-180003, XTENDIMAX, EPA Reg. No.524-617 – SLN label MO-180002, and ENGENIA, EPA Reg. No. 7969-345 – SLN label MO-180001, including label restrictions, is available at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba. 

Bringing ag business to Missouri

Director of Agriculture Chinn authors a monthly column in Missouri Ruralist entitled Ag Matters. Below is this month's column.

Since I took the helm at the Missouri Department of Agriculture, we’ve reimagined things. We have pushed ourselves to be more strategic, more intentional and more efficient. That led to the launch of our strategic vision, MORE, and has shaped countless other decisions across the Department.

As a result of this reimagination and leadership from division director Davin Althoff, the Agriculture Business Development (ABD) division began working through the development of their own strategic operational plan. ABD’s role has been, and will continue to be, to promote and create economic growth opportunities for agriculture. Though this has long been the overarching focus, the new plan will provide additional guidance, clarity and intention — and do so in a bigger, bolder way. 

This operational plan aligns with the four pillars of MORE and will drive positive change within the division, while also embracing continuity. It provides a sharper focus to our team’s work by establishing a clearly defined purpose, mission and vision statement. ABD’s new mission statement is “to develop and implement visionary agricultural business initiatives. These initiatives will contribute to the economic viability of Missouri, and will advance the quality of life for all Missourians in alignment with the pillars of MORE.”

Click here to read the remainder of the column.

Governor Greitens announces launch of Rural Resource Guide

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has rolled out a tool to help members of rural communities find and access the network of business and community development resources. 

“We made a commitment to work for Missouri’s rural communities—families that are too often forgotten. This new Resource Guide is one more effort to help fulfill that promise,” said Governor Greitens. “Our state has a fantastic network of public, private, and non-profit resources that are serving those communities every day. We put together this site to make these partners easier to find, so businesses and families can get the resources they need to succeed.”

“Rural communities and farmers have a symbiotic relationship,” Chris Chinn, Director of Missouri’s Department of Agriculture said. “By and large, our farmers call rural Missouri home, and want that home to thrive and prosper. Sometimes it simply takes being connected to, and aware of, the right resources, that is why I think this tool will serve agriculture and all rural Missourians well.” 

Click here to visit the Missouri Rural Resource Guide.

Click here to read more.