Bayer says Dicamba complaints are down in 2019 overall but Illinois has a record number of cases.
The state’s 590 complaints are up from 330 in 2018 and 246 in 2017. For other states, complaints trend down over the past two years. Bayer’s Crop Science President says the company is looking into what’s happening in Illinois. He says farmers had the date to apply Dicamba extended from June 30th to July 15th. Since weather delays caused many farmers to plant late this could be part of the issue. Bayer says they’re looking at specific agronomic conditions to evaluate the cause and find ways to avoid this situation in the future.
Meanwhile, Bayer says it may take legal action if the European Union bans Glyphosate. Officials in Austria, France, and Germany have already indicated they intend to phase out the herbicide. The license will be up for renewal in 2022.
