University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley bolded and underlined the word “university” because he’s “mad at the industry, the companies” who have not contributed to identifying and solving issues surrounding dicamba. 

“The things that we have learned about dicamba since it came out have come from concerned university scientists, not just here, but all over,” Bradley told a group of 300 crop consultants, chemical and seed representatives, and industry professionals during the MU Crop Conference in Columbia, Mo.

“A lot of you don’t get that.” he added. “You just listen to what your local rep says, and you just go with it.” He challenged them to probe deeper and visit with university experts when they need more information.

He offered 10 ideas from years of research from across the nation regarding dicamba use for 2020 and beyond:

1. Herbicide applications can hurt. When farmers use other herbicide applications days before or after a dicamba drift event, injury severity increases on non-Xtend soybeans. Researchers at Purdue University found injury to soybeans is worse when Liberty or Roundup was applied — either one to three days before a drift event, or one to three days after a drift event — than without an application. Why? The research attributes it to the fact that an application of a product was made that had an adjuvant. “If dicamba is sitting on leaf,” Bradley added, “then you just made it so that dicamba goes into that soybean plant.”

University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley bolded and underlined the word “university” because he’s “mad at the industry, the companies” who have not contributed to identifying and solving issues surrounding dicamba.

“The things that we have learned about dicamba since it came out have come from concerned university scientists, not just here, but all over,” Bradley told a group of 300 crop consultants, chemical and seed representatives, and industry professionals during the MU Crop Conference in Columbia, Mo. 

He offered 10 ideas from years of research from across the nation regarding dicamba use for 2020 and beyond:

1. Herbicide applications can hurt. When farmers use other herbicide applications days before or after a dicamba drift event, injury severity increases on non-Xtend soybeans. Researchers at Purdue University found injury to soybeans is worse when Liberty or Roundup was applied — either one to three days before a drift event, or one to three days after a drift event — than without an application. Why? The research attributes it to the fact that an application of a product was made that had an adjuvant. “If dicamba is sitting on leaf,” Bradley added, “then you just made it so that dicamba goes into that soybean plant.

2. Water helps. Irrigation or rainfall likely reduces aerial movement of dicamba. If you make an application of dicamba, rainfall it is a good thing, Bradley said. Pretty soon after, it will reduce the likelihood of volatility. So the sooner after application that you can get a rainfall or irrigation without messing up your uptake on the weeds, the better it is.

3. Lifting from leaves. University of Tennessee, University of Minnesota and Purdue University researchers found dicamba volatility is greater coming off leaves. They looked at more surfaces, but overall found volatility was greater from leaves than soil.

4. Dewy day effect. Where dew is present, dicamba volatility increases. If there is dew on a leaf and XdendiMax, Fexapan or Engenia is applied, Bradley says, increases the likelihood it will volatilize.

5. Soil pH problems. Dicamba volatility is greater if applied to soils with lower pH.