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
The use of ultrasound may make growing beef more efficient.
One of the job categories in agriculture facing a talent shortage is agronomy.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified a new strain of PED virus.
Researchers in Florida are a step closer to finding a possible cure for citrus canker.
If a farmer wants his tobacco to go from the curing barn to the sale barn, there’s only one way to get the crop ready.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The lower outlook follows months of drought stress across major winter wheat regions, where some producers have abandoned fields or shifted acres to grazing instead of harvest.
Current estimates indicate the federal government could be forced to return more than $150 billion to importers.
Mike Schulte with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission joins us to discuss drought stress in the Great Plains and the current outlook for Oklahoma’s winter wheat crop.
Farmers are closely watching upcoming U.S.-China trade talks as rising fertilizer and diesel costs continue to pressure exports, margins, and rural economies.
Autumn Lankford Higgins with the Farm Bureau joins us to discuss data center expansion on farmland, rural policy considerations, and the role of agriculture in emerging digital infrastructure.