Dicamba Crossfire: Farmers feel caught in the middle of the herbicide fight

This week marked the cutoff date for Dicamba, a popular herbicide for soybean farmers. It has been at the center of discussion for years, and some say farmers are caught in the middle.

A court removed the government’s approval earlier this year, leaving many producers to question their next steps. However, on the other hand, growers welcomed the move. Illinois farmer Scott Trimble lost nearly his whole crop a few years ago thanks to Dicamba drift from a neighboring soybean field. He tells Prairie Farmer it has been an uphill battle ever since.

Many soybean farmers had become afraid to use it for fear of similar situations, and others felt distrust in the government approval system.

Related Stories
Turner built one of the nation’s largest private land holdings while becoming a major force in bison ranching and conservation.
Researchers say stronger rootstocks are helping growers fight citrus greening.
Industry leaders say overseas markets remain critical as USDA pushes for broader export opportunities.
The Overstreet family’s cattle operation combines conservation practices with decades of resilience.
RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney and other experts break down ongoing energy market volatility, its impact on producer decision-making, and key indicators farmers should monitor moving forward.
Cotton margins improved slightly, even as fertilizer and fuel costs rose due to the Strait of Hormuz disruption linked to the Iran war.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Accessing land is one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
HTS Commodities broker Lewis Williamson joins us to break down the latest USDA Crop Progress Report and how weather and global supply chain issues could influence planting conditions moving forward.
Purdue University’s Dr. Michael Langemeier joins us to break down the latest read on farmer sentiment in the April Ag Economy Barometer, and growing concerns about the impact of global conflict on farm inputs and income.
Federal officials are signaling a more aggressive push on beef packer concentration, but any direct market impact will depend on what the investigation actually finds.
Higher freight rates and potential service disruptions are key concerns for agriculture, which relies heavily on rail to move commodities.
Wyoming cowboy and Dusty Vaquero Days founder J.B. Zielke joins us to preview his upcoming event in Gillette and to highlight the festival’s celebration of cowboy culture through music and community events.