MN Commissioner of Agriculture Discusses Dicamba June 12 Cutoff

Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Peterson spent two days at the MN Ag Expo, the Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Commissioner Peterson said it was important for him to be at events like the MN Ag Expo to just talk with farmers and ag business about any issues or concerns they may have. In some cases the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) can help with some of those concerns, sometimes it is a Federal issue.

There was a lot of discussion about the MDA requesting the EPA add a June 12 application cutoff for dicamba in southern Minnesota. The MDA received many off target complaints for dicamba last summer. Commissioner Peterson said they worked with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Drift Task Force, University of Minnesota Extension, companies that developed the Extend system and others to propose the earlier cutoff application date.

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There is no question the Extend System system with dicamba is very effective at controlling tough weeds in soybeans. Hopefully this earlier cutoff application date will significantly decrease off target complaints this summer. My concern is if we continue to see many complaints the EPA may take dicamba off the market completely! Click on the link and listen to Commissioner Peterson from the MN AG Expo.