Despite the Environmental Protection Agency’s ruling on dicamba, there is still uncertainty about this year’s crop.
The EPA says that farmers have until July 31st to use up their existing stock of dicamba. However, the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity state that that decision defies the 9th Circuit Court Ruling to set aside registration for Xtendimax, Engenia, and Fexapan. They plan to take it back to the court as quickly as possible.
If the EPA’s decision is overturned, it could put a lot of cotton in jeopardy. Gary Adams, the National Cotton Council President and CEO, states, “It does create a serious challenge for our producers who are in the midst of the season, and you know we estimate that probably 70-75 percent of acres of cotton are planted to dicamba tolerant varieties. Now, they’re somewhat in limbo due to this ruling.”