Report from Research Workshop on the Off-Target Movement of Dicamba Made Available by WSSA
WESTMINSTER, Colorado – July 20, 2018 – Today the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) announced that a report from a recent research workshop on the off-target movement of dicamba herbicides is available on the Society’s website. The workshop was designed to identify data gaps and develop research protocols that will help all stakeholders better understand and manage factors contributing to dicamba off-target movement.
Dicamba herbicide has been registered for use since the 1960s. After the introduction of dicamba-resistant crops in 2016, dicamba use increased significantly, resulting in many claims of off-site movement and injury.
The report focuses on the reported off-target dicamba issues from 2016 and 2017. It also highlights the state of science-based information and research gaps shared by weed scientists, state and federal regulators, application technology specialists and dicamba registrants who gathered for the workshop to discuss actions that can be taken to promote better understanding and management of the herbicide. Examples include:
- Track areas planted in dicamba-resistant crop cultivars, as well as the quantities of dicamba used
- Relate dicamba damage complaints to terrain and weather conditions
- Improve herbicide labels to address:
- uniformity in label organization
- finding and interpreting use instructions
- listing of dicamba-sensitive crops, landscape and native plants, and trees
- “neighboring distance” information for dicamba-sensitive plant species
- conditions leading to atmospheric inversions
- Coordinate applicator training so that all trainers present the same detailed information
- Perform research to better characterize the potential volatility of new herbicide formulations and to better determine:
- dose vs. damage relationships for key crops
- how to protect growers, property owners and the public from off-target movement
- modes of dicamba movement that are not currently accounted for
“Our intent with this research workshop was to identify the major data gaps that need to be filled as technologies are being brought into production fields,” says Scott Senseman, Ph.D., president of WSSA. “We are clearly facing a need for more publicly funded research to identify new and more integrated approaches to weed control.”
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.
Press Contact:
Lee Van Wychen
Executive Director of Science Policy, National & Regional Weed Science Societies
[email protected]
202-746-4686